Territory Hits Sales Milestone for Ford in Oz
Executive Summary
The locally built SUV was Australian-bred and born, executives say, and has ushered in a number of firsts for the auto maker in the market.
The Australian-built Ford Territory SUV reaches a production milestone, with 150,000 units sold in the eight years since its launch.
Ford Australia President and CEO Bob Graziano says the Territory was the brainchild of Ford in Australia, where it was designed, engineered and manufactured.
Championed by Geoff Polites, then president of Ford Australia, the A$500 million ($523 million) project was approved by Ford management in the U.S. and became the first Australian-made and developed SUV.
The vehicle has proven a hit with customers and an outstanding success for Ford in Australia, Graziano says. “We are incredibly proud of this car and what it has achieved.”
The idea for the Territory emerged after extensive market research established a growing need in Australia for a vehicle combining the best characteristics of family sedans, traditional SUVs and peoplemovers.
Launched in 2004, the SX Territory sold 13,583 units and was named Wheels magazine’s car of the year.
Sales totaled 28,447 units in its first full year of production in 2005 at the Broadmeadows assembly plant.
Ford captured a number of firsts with the Territory, including the first Australian-made vehicle to offer inflatable curtain airbags and dynamic stability control. In 2005, the SY Territory broke new ground in the market by adding a backup camera.
With Territory sales success continuing, the SZ was launched in 2011 with a more fuel-efficient gasoline engine and, for the first time, a 2.7L turbodiesel with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
The SZ Territory also saw the introduction of a new high-series Titanium model, which now is a top seller in the model lineup.
The introduction of the SZ and a TDCi engine saw Territory return to the top of the monthly sales charts as Australia’s best-selling SUV.
The SZ boasts high refinement levels and 5-star crash safety mated to a stylish and contemporary look that aligns with the signature design of other Ford products.
