Ruqayyah Snyder
Ford Motor Company of Australia Limited, also known as Ford Australia, was founded in 1925 as an Australian outpost of Ford Motor Company of Canada. The company started by assembling Model Ts and went on to produce various other models, including the Falcon, which was produced from 1960 to 2016. However, in 2016, Ford closed its Australian factories after more than 90 years of car manufacturing in the country. This marked the end of production for the Ford Falcon, a beloved icon in Australian automotive culture. So, is Ford still making cars in Australia?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year Ford Australia was founded | 1925 |
| Headquarters | Geelong, Victoria |
| First products | Model T cars assembled from CKD kits provided by Ford of Canada |
| Best-known model | Falcon, produced from 1960 to 2016 |
| Year Ford closed Australian factories | 2016 |
| Number of manufacturing workers affected | 600 |
| Ford's most popular car in Australia in 2020 | Ranger |
| Ford car with weaker than expected sales in Australia in 2021 | Ford Focus |
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What You'll Learn
Ford stopped making cars in Australia in 2016
Ford Motor Company of Australia Limited, also known as Ford Australia, was founded in 1925 as an Australian outpost of Ford Motor Company of Canada. The company's first products were Model T cars assembled from complete knock-down (CKD) kits provided by Ford of Canada. Over the years, Ford Australia introduced various models to the country, including the Falcon, which was produced from 1960 to 2016.
However, in 2016, Ford closed its Australian factories after more than 90 years of car manufacturing. The last Australian-made Ford car rolled off the assembly line at the company's Broadmeadows plant, marking a significant moment in the company's history and the end of an era for Australian automotive manufacturing. The final vehicle, a blue XR6 Falcon, was met with emotion by Ford employees and racing champions alike.
The decision to close the Australian factories was influenced by several factors, including the decline in sales of Ford models such as the Falcon and the Fairlane, which had been overtaken by competitors in the luxury car market. Additionally, Ford Australia chief executive Graeme Whickman mentioned the transition towards innovation and design as a reason for ending manufacturing in the country.
Despite no longer manufacturing cars in Australia, Ford has maintained a presence in the country. In 2020, four years after ceasing local production, Ford's Ranger model became the most popular car in Australia. The company continues to offer various models in the Australian market, including SUVs, trucks, and EVs, showcasing its commitment to adapting to the changing demands of Australian consumers.
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The Ford Falcon was the last car made in Australia
Ford Motor Company of Australia Limited, or Ford Australia, was founded in 1925 as an Australian outpost of Ford Motor Company of Canada. The company's first products were Model T cars assembled from complete knock-down kits provided by Ford of Canada. Over the years, Ford Australia introduced new models that were assembled in Australia, including the Ford Falcon, which was produced from 1960 to 2016.
The Ford Falcon was a full-size car that was manufactured by Ford Australia and sold in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and some RHD Asian markets. From the XA series of 1972 onwards, each Falcon was designed, developed, and built in Australia, following the phasing out of the American-influenced Falcon. The Falcon was adapted to Australian requirements and road conditions, and over 3 million units were made over seven generations.
The Falcon was a popular car in Australia and was the number-one seller until 1988. It was known for its toughness and long suspension travel, making it suitable for badly rutted roads. The Falcon was also a successful racing car, with a dominating 1-2 finish at the 1977 Hardie Ferodo 1000. In 1978, Ford introduced the limited-edition Cobra, which was based on the Falcon GS Hardtop model.
Despite its popularity, Ford Australia announced that it would be cancelling production of the Falcon in 2016. The final Falcon, a blue XR6, rolled off the assembly line at the company's Broadmeadows plant, marking the end of an era for Ford in Australia. The closure of the Ford plants in Broadmeadows and Geelong resulted in job losses for 600 manufacturing workers.
The Ford Falcon holds a significant place in Australian automotive history and culture, and its legacy continues to be celebrated even after the end of its production.
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Ford Australia now focuses on innovation and design
Ford Motor Company of Australia Limited, or Ford Australia, was founded in 1925 as an Australian outpost of Ford Motor Company of Canada. In 2016, Ford closed its Australian factories after more than 90 years of car-making. The last Australian-made Ford car was a blue XR6 Falcon, which rolled off the assembly line at the company's Broadmeadows plant.
Despite the end of manufacturing in Australia, Ford Australia's chief executive, Graeme Whickman, stated that the company's legacy would live on. Whickman said, "As the industry transitions, we expect to become the country's largest auto employer by 2018. We're moving towards innovation and design and we'll have over 1,100 researchers and designers working on some pretty cool ideas."
Staying true to its word, Ford Australia has continued to innovate and design new vehicles for the Australian market. For example, in 2021, Ford Australia opted to drop regular versions of the Focus after weaker-than-expected sales and focus on the Focus ST hot hatch, which accounted for approximately 40% of Focus sales in Australia in the first half of 2021.
Ford Australia has also continued to sponsor Australian organizations such as the Geelong Football Club and Deakin University, where it funds the Ford Australia Women in STEAM Scholarship.
Today, Ford Australia offers a range of trucks, vans, cars, SUVs, and EVs, including the popular Ranger model.
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Ford's Ranger is the most popular car in Australia
Ford Motor Company of Australia Limited, or Ford Australia, was founded in 1925 as an Australian outpost of Ford Motor Company of Canada. Ford Australia's first products were Model T cars assembled from complete knock-down (CKD) kits provided by Ford of Canada. In 2016, Ford closed its Australian factories after more than 90 years of car-making. The last Ford to be made in Australia was the Ford Falcon, which was embedded in Australian culture for more than half a century.
Despite Ford no longer making cars in Australia, the Ford Ranger has become the most popular car in the country. In 2023, the Ranger received multiple awards from Australian Auto Media, including being named the Car of the Year by Drive. The Ranger Raptor was celebrated for its off-road performance and agility, while the Ranger Wildtrak was honoured for its towing performance. The Ranger's success came in a record year for Australian new-car sales, with sales surpassing 1.2 million units for the first time. The Ford Ranger beat the Toyota HiLux to become Australia's best-selling vehicle, with Ranger sales growing by a third (33%) year on year.
The Australian-designed and engineered Ranger is renowned for its blend of capability, performance, and innovative technology. It has evolved from a work vehicle into an essential part of Aussie life, catering to tradies, families, office workers, and adventure seekers. The Ranger has also gained popularity on the r/DonutMedia subreddit, with Aussies commenting on the high price of the car in their country compared to other markets.
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Ford Focus sales have declined due to a shift towards SUVs
Ford Motor Company of Australia Limited, also known as Ford Australia, was founded in 1925 as an Australian outpost of Ford Motor Company of Canada. The company has a rich history in the country, with its first products being Model T cars assembled from complete knock-down kits provided by Ford of Canada. Over the years, Ford Australia introduced various models, including the Falcon, which became an iconic part of Australian culture.
However, in 2016, Ford closed its Australian factories after more than 90 years of car-making. The company's plants at Broadmeadows and Geelong shut down, marking the end of locally-made Ford cars in Australia. Despite this shift, Ford continues to offer various vehicles in Australia, including cars, SUVs, trucks, and EVs.
One of Ford's popular models, the Ford Focus, has seen a decline in sales in recent years, leading to the company's decision to discontinue it by 2025. This decline in sales can be attributed, in part, to a shift in consumer preferences towards SUVs and trucks, which offer better utility and safety features. While the Focus was once a strong seller, it could not compete with the profitability of selling CUVs and city trucks.
Additionally, Ford's focus on electric vehicles, such as the F-150 Lightning, and the prioritization of these models over traditional compact cars, further contributed to the decline in Focus sales. The company's decision to cancel the Focus Active in 2018 due to tariffs imposed by the U.S. government on exports from China also impacted the model's availability and sales.
Moreover, market competition from other compact models, such as the Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra, outperformed the Focus in its segment. Regional trends, such as the adoption of EU fleet emissions targets in the UK, which incentivize heavier vehicles, also played a role in the decline of Focus sales. With Ford's announcement to discontinue the Focus by 2025, it is clear that the company is pivoting towards crossovers and SUVs to meet changing consumer demands and market trends.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Ford is not making cars in Australia. In 2016, Ford closed its Australian factories after more than 90 years of car manufacturing in the country.
Ford stopped making cars in Australia because it was too expensive. Labor costs were too high, and the buying market was too small.
The last Ford car to be made in Australia was the Ford Falcon. The final vehicle, a blue XR6, rolled off the assembly line at Ford's plant in Broadmeadows.
Yes, Ford still has a presence in Australia. Ford Australia is the Australian subsidiary of the Ford Motor Company and offers various vehicles, including trucks, vans, cars, SUVs, and EVs.
