Aussie Focus Cancelled

Velociraptor82 · 24-07-2009, 05:26 PM

Ford have cancelled their plans to build the Focus in Aust

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11267540

Does this mean no FPV Focus???.......Bring on the RS!!!!

melbzetec · 24-07-2009, 05:53 PM

4 cylinder turbo charged Falcon instead!

jweb · 24-07-2009, 09:28 PM

great move by Ford Australia.Building the Focus in Australia represented minimal to no cost advantage.Alot of risk to take for a small return.Am relieved

.

Tj-zetec · 25-07-2009, 01:23 PM

It would have been great to have another car being built in Australia, but i agree it was a big gamble for the auto industry at the moment.

If the economy was better it would make more sense.

Fast Eddie · 25-07-2009, 03:07 PM

So, I assume Australia will still receive Focus from Sth.Africa?? A Mondeo Wagon for me is looking very tempting.

jweb · 25-07-2009, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tj-zetec

It would have been great to have another car being built in Australia, but i agree it was a big gamble for the auto industry at the moment.

If the economy was better it would make more sense.

Totally agree.The focus will most likely be built in Thailand to take advantage of Australia's zero tariff trade agreement with Thailand.

marg99 · 26-07-2009, 04:49 PM

The way to go seems to be to be forced induction small displacement motors providing economy,with some reasonable power outputs. Suspect they may have some issues about their life as they will work hard.
Mondeo has the potential to out sell the falcon but the marketing has been less than brilliant on products other than the big sixes.

Velociraptor82 · 31-07-2009, 10:26 AM

I guess what I meant when I start this thred was that it was firmly believed that Ford wouldn't bring the RS to Aust because FPV wanted to do their own. But since those plans have now been cancelled I can't see why Ford can't bring RS to Aust (even if it is only limited numbers).....

What can I say? I desperatly wanna see the RS being sold here.

jweb · 31-07-2009, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Velociraptor82

I guess what I meant when I start this thred was that it was firmly believed that Ford wouldn't bring the RS to Aust because FPV wanted to do their own. But since those plans have now been cancelled I can't see why Ford can't bring RS to Aust (even if it is only limited numbers).....

What can I say? I desperatly wanna see the RS being sold here.

Would definitely lift the brand equity and presence in Australia.I can see only being used as a marketing tool,not necessarily for profit as such.
A marketing/Publicity tool,which i may say would be quiet effective in Australia.

vztrt · 31-07-2009, 03:02 PM

RS here would be great for to head the Focus.

Tj-zetec · 31-07-2009, 07:26 PM

Yet hardly representative of the cars being built in Thailand.

I know it's a little jaded but it would be a hard sell to convince me to buy a Thai built one. Holden Rodeo anyone?

Still, I wouldn't compain if they brng the RS out to flag ship the range tho.

marg99 · 01-08-2009, 08:06 AM

I thought Honda made the Civic in Thialand? My LT Focus was made in South Africa where they also make Merc E class cars so where they are made is less important than the quality of the parts and design that go into them.

jweb · 02-08-2009, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tj-zetec

Yet hardly representative of the cars being built in Thailand.

I know it's a little jaded but it would be a hard sell to convince me to buy a Thai built one. Holden Rodeo anyone?

Still, I wouldn't compain if they brng the RS out to flag ship the range tho.

you mean isuzu

AG3 · 03-08-2009, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tj-zetec

Yet hardly representative of the cars being built in Thailand.

I know it's a little jaded but it would be a hard sell to convince me to buy a Thai built one. Holden Rodeo anyone?

The Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, Mitsubishi Triton, Honda Accord, Civic Sedan, City, Jazz, CR-V, Nissan Tiida, Maxima, and Navara sold in Australia are also made in Thailand.

Living in an ASEAN country where majority of the cars are sourced from Thailand, all I can say is the quality of the Thai-built vehicles are actually good.

Tj-zetec · 03-08-2009, 10:54 PM

I can quite confidently say that I don't want to drive ANY of those cars.

But maybe I'm just an elitist knob .

:

The worse thing ford can do is drop the ball on the build quality of the focus (further than some may argue it already has)

AG3 · 04-08-2009, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tj-zetec

But maybe I'm just an elitist knob .

:

Seems like it ...just kidding.

:

Anyway (to others) save your final judgement until you see the actual cars (Next Focus and future units of the Fiesta).

melbzetec · 04-08-2009, 10:47 AM

The quality of cars out of Thailand is excellent as long as the company has excellent manufacturing processes. I know the Thai built Hondas are excellent.

I'd buy a Thai built car over a South African built car any day.

(Hey TJ.......... Maybe you're not elitist......just a knob

)

Tj-zetec · 04-08-2009, 10:48 AM

I wasn't kidding.

And Steve, did you just admit to admiring a Honda? Heretic!!

And your right. We can sit and flap our gums all we like but the reality is, buisness wise this is the right decision.
But most of us on here are a little more attached to the focus than others and while we want nothing more than the ford brand and the focus badge to grow and succeed, we don't want what Holden did to the barina to happen to us (they took a reasonably well built and competent euro car and replace it with a Korean sourced shopping trolley with a roof)

Image is important to the sales of this type of car. And for some people, the fact it's built in Bangkok instead of Saarlouis will deter them from the car.
FoMoCo just need to make sure they don't give the critics any substance to back up that belief.

AG3 · 04-08-2009, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tj-zetec

I wasn't kidding.

And Steve, did you just admit to admiring a Honda? Heretic!!

And your right. We can sit and flap our gums all we like but the reality is, buisness wise this is the right decision.
But most of us on here are a little more attached to the focus than others and while we want nothing more than the ford brand and the focus badge to grow and succeed, we don't want what Holden did to the barina to happen to us (they took a reasonably well built and competent euro car and replace it with a Korean sourced shopping trolley with a roof)

Image is important to the sales of this type of car. And for some people, the fact it's built in Bangkok instead of Saarlouis will deter them from the car.
FoMoCo just need to make sure they don't give the critics any substance to back up that belief.

Holden's case is different, they replaced the Opel sourced Barina with a Korean Daewoo developed Barina.

The new Ford cars from Thailand won't be developed in Thailand, they will still be developed by Ford of Europe (Fiesta and probably the next Focus).
By the way, AutoAlliance Thailand's new $500M(USD) small car facility is located in Rayong, Thailand.