Cancellation of local Focus, now being regretted?

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by big_landau

ford australia is in total disarray,i just hope the falcon dosnt go the way of the valiant,another great australian car gone down in history.

Total disarray?
Ford sales are up 6.6% compared to February 2010 because other products
like Fiesta, Focus, Mondeo, Ranger and Escape are stepping up..

[prydey]

Originally Posted by bobthebilda

Deveraux come out last week and said Holden production had to be 105,000 cars a year just to be viable. Ford hasnt given a figure, but with max capacity of 110,000 (as written in article above), then they probably want over 100,000 to be viable also.

Focus production was never going to help Falcon. Even if Falcon again reached 30,000 a year, Territory 15000 and focus was able to double its current sales and reach 2000 per month, it would only add up to about 70,000 a year anyhow. And probably increase the difficulty of the Factory no end.

If the local manufacturers cant make money on a $37000 car, with very little competitors in the large car segment, how are they expected to make money on a $21000 car, littered with competition.

Theres a big difference between wanting to keep local production going, and wanting to run the company as efficiently as possible.

Has something changed in the last 20 years that australian manufacturers have suddenly become competitive with overseas manufacturers (if so, then whats all this big uproar that they can't compete). It doesnt matter if Holden make 2000 cruzes a month, or 4000 cruzes a month, if they are losing $1000 on every car, its just a matter of how big the loss is. Has anyone not noticed that when the cruze was announced, Holden had 3000 employees at its manufacturing operation. With cruze now being made, they now have 2500 employees.

this doesn't happen too often but i do agree with you. your numbers may not be accurate, but you paint the right picture. Focus was simply not going to work, which is why it isn't being built here.

there is no room for patriotism or emotions when running a business. if the numbers don't stack up, then build it somewhere where they will.

[jpd80]

The notion that Holden would make cars that lose money is absurd......

The notion that Holden loses money every year is not....

[Venomous1]

I don't care about these drama articles.Ford is still okay just taking there sweet time tho.

[mik]

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