Ford Oz Chief Not Committed to Production End Date

Ford leaves open the prospect it could shut down its Australian manufacturing earlier than 2016.

President and CEO Bob Graziano tells reporters in Melbourne the automaker still aims to keep building until October 2016, but Ford will “continue to match production to demand.”

The Australian Associated Press quotes him as saying, “If you are looking for a guarantee, there are no guarantees. It is our intent to work to that date.”

Graziano says it is a tough marketplace for Ford’s locally produced cars.

“We have seen continued pressure in the large-car segment,” he says. “I know there is a lot of speculation around a hastening of departure.”

Ford earlier this year said it would lay off 300 employees earlier than planned because of weaker demand for its vehicles since announcing the production shutdown.

It is aggressively transforming its Australian business by accelerating new product launches, helping employees transition to new opportunities and hiring staff to support future business growth.

Ford says new global products such as the Focus, Ranger and Fiesta are beginning to gain traction, making up about 80% of the automaker’s sales mix so far this year.

“Ford is absolutely committed to serving our customers with world-class vehicles with advanced technologies and innovative features,” Graziano says in a statement. “We plan to continue this momentum by refreshing our entire lineup by 2017, including the launches of the new Focus, Mondeo, Falcon, Mustang, Transit and Everest by next year.”

The EcoSport small SUV launched in December and the Transit Custom is arriving in showrooms this month. The Transit 2-ton van and the refreshed Falcon and Territory are due out later this year, while the new Mondeo, Focus and Mustang arrive in 2015.

Ford is hiring about 20 marketing and sales professionals to support this product onslaught and growth plans. The automaker also is recruiting university graduates for full-time positions expected to begin in 2015.

 “As the industry transitions, we expect to become the country’s largest auto employer by 2018 – something we take great pride in, considering this will include about 1,500 highly skilled employees across professions such as engineering and design,” Graziano says.

Ford is making significant progress helping manufacturing employees and suppliers impacted by plant closings in 2016 find new opportunities.

The automaker has moved 20 plant employees into roles not affected by the manufacturing transition or to new jobs outside the company. More will follow, Graziano says.

“Helping employees transition to the next phases of their careers and lives is a critical priority for Ford,” he says.

Ford also is working with Automotive Skills Australia, a training organization funded by the federal government, to prepare employees for new jobs. It will host job fairs this month in Geelong, Victoria, and in Broadmeadows, Victoria, in April.

The automaker is introducing its suppliers to new business opportunities and under this “match-making” strategy nine have won contracts with Ford’s regional and global product operations.

Ford will host a supplier trade fair March 12-13 in Geelong.