Now for something a little different.
FPV to Broadmeadows.
For this post, I have included the official press release for the announcement made in mid 2012.
FORD ASSUMES SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR FORD PERFORMANCE VEHICLES
MELBOURNE, Australia (Thursday August 30 2012): Ford Australia and Prodrive today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Ford to purchase the assets of FPV required to engineer, manufacture and market the FPV brand in Australia.
- Ford Australia and Prodrive Automotive Technology Asia Pacific Holdings (Prodrive) have entered into an MOU for Ford to purchase the assets of Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) required to continue engineering, manufacturing and marketing the FPV brand in Australia.
- Development, production and marketing of FPV vehicles will move to Ford Australia’s Geelong and Campbellfield operations.
- Customers will experience no difference to their interactions with the FPV brand.
Negotiations are expected to be completed shortly, with Ford to take responsibility for future activities of FPV from the end of 2012. Ford will become responsible for all future development programs, the manufacture of FPV engines and vehicles, and marketing the FPV brand.
Until now, FPV has operated under a Joint Venture agreement between Prodrive (51%) and Ford Australia (49%). The change follows a review by the partners of the FPV business and both partners concluding the current business situation was unsustainable in the long-term.
“We recognise the passion and dedication of FPV enthusiasts and their desire to see Ford high-performance vehicles available in the market,” said Ford Australia President & CEO Bob Graziano.
“Although this segment of the market is relatively niche, it is an important part of Ford’s performance history and DNA. Both partners have worked hard to ensure the FPV brand can continue to thrive in Australia post the change to our current arrangements.”
Production of FPV engines will move to Ford’s Geelong engine plant, while full vehicle assembly will take place at Ford’s Campbellfield plant. The additional work at both sites will offset the need for a small number of the previously announced redundancies across both sites.
Unfortunately, although Ford can take on responsibility for the FPV brand and in-source the manufacturing and other work, the change will see approximately 32 FPV staff become redundant at the end of 2012. All entitlements and other benefits for those staff will be provided.
“As a result of the business review, Prodrive has made the decision to exit the performance car market at the end of 2012,” said Prodrive Managing Director Bryan Mears.
“We have enjoyed great success through our partnership with Ford Australia and look forward to watching the FPV brand continue to thrive in the future.”
FPV vehicles will continue to be sold through Ford’s dedicated network of FPV specialist dealers Australia. There will be no change to current service and warranty arrangements.
“Our current and future customers should experience little, if any, change to the way they interact with the FPV brand,” said Graziano. “We look forward to continue providing them with the outstanding performance and specialist service they have enjoyed to date.”
The first Ford completed FPV rolled off the line in early February 2013, a Silhouette GT sedan. Ford set up a dedicated FPV assembly line within the Broadmeadows plant where the cars were hand-finished by Ford's "best technicians", many trained and supervised by former FPV.
The 'Miami' V8 production line was transported and set up at the Geelong engine plant, where they remained hand-built and signed by a single technician. That move marked 30 years since Ford last built V8 engine at the Geelong plant.
“Ford’s history with performance vehicles goes back a very long way and nameplates such as GS and GT are warmly welcomed back in-house,” Graziano said.
“Even though these cars have previously been assembled by FPV, I feel the FPV brand is returning to its natural home.
“Today, we are very proud to be assembling these hand-crafted performance machines right here for our FPV customers.”
At the time, I remember being somewhat devastated at this move, there was a certain prestige factor in have a Falcon that passed through the Tickford/FPV facility. But as history would prove, a few months later Ford made an even more devastating announcement, the closure of all manufacturing in Australia. As such, the 2012/2013 FPV to Broadmeadows was result of that impending factory closures.
I obviously can't prove this, but I firmly believe the decision to close Ford Australia down was made years before it was announced. The cancellation of the V6 program, in effect giving the Barra a reprieve, along with cancelling the locally assembled Focus in 2010 was a clear indication of this. Ford decided to ride-out the model cycle of the FG Falcon and SZ Territory, rather than pulling the plug suddenly and brutally like Mitsubishi did in 2007.
I also want to highlight Bob Graziano and the role he played in the closure of local manufacturing. While I initially hated him, that sentiment has softened over the last decade. He was clearly sent here with a mission, in effect being thrown to the wolves. I have no doubt what his role would have been extremely difficult and uncomfortable, to lead a team who's fate was sealed long before the announcement was made. He was roasted by anyone and everyone for the job he was doing until he stepped down at the end of 2013. His job was done, and so was his time with Ford.
I think like a number of American's who were sent here to run Ford Australia were tasked with the same mission, but eventually became an advocate for the local team, and then were either fired or left the Ford Motor Company in frustration. I think it was easy to be critical of the revolving door of CEO's, but their hands were tied. When times were good and the money flowing, head office were all too happy to siphon that back to the US. When times were bad, the drive to shut down local manufacturing or adopting global models became an obsession. It's something I could never figure out, the internal politics and the us vs them mentality when they were all representing the same company.
As for Graziano, his time shutting down Ford Australia took its toll. Not only did that stress cause him to step down as CEO, but he also left Ford and the car industry behind.