Damon Mcknight
The Ford Bronco is an iconic American off-roader SUV with a rich history spanning six decades. Despite its immense popularity in the US, the Bronco has not been available in Australia due to various factors, including its left-hand drive configuration and the relatively small Australian market for such vehicles. However, there is growing speculation that Ford may introduce a right-hand drive Bronco, making it more accessible to Australian consumers. While Ford has not confirmed the Bronco's release in Australia, the company has left the door open for a potential launch, and CEO Jim Farley has expressed interest in exploring the right-hand drive option.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Bronco availability in Australia | Available at American Car Company, Gold Coast |
| Ford's official statement | Ford has never confirmed the Bronco for Australia, but has left the door open for a local introduction |
| Ford CEO's statement | "The big Bronco will do right-hand drive and I think it’s worth a try" |
| Bronco's popularity in Australia | The Bronco is an off-road icon in Australia and is expected to be popular |
| Bronco's features | Removable roof panels, removable doors, rubberised washable floors, Trail Control, 8 drive modes, Sasquatch™ Package |
| Bronco's price | $95,000 estimated price, plus on-road costs |
| Bronco's engine | 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol, 224kW/441Nm |
| Bronco's transmission | Seven-speed manual |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Ford has not confirmed the Bronco for Australia
The Bronco is a popular offering in the US, with its rugged SUV design and off-road capabilities. It shares its DNA with the top-selling Ranger ute, which was partially developed in Australia. However, the Bronco has always been pitched as left-hand drive only, and Ford has deemed it prohibitively expensive to manufacture a right-hand-drive version on the US production line given the relatively small numbers it would sell in Australia.
The high cost of converting the Bronco to right-hand drive is another factor that makes its release in Australia unlikely. The Bronco starts at $US39,630 ($AUD64,788), and the rough markup of $35,000 to bring it to Australia and convert it takes the price to $AUD99,788. When the luxury car tax is factored in, the total cost rises to $105,554 before stamp duty and registration.
Despite these challenges, Ford has not ruled out the possibility of bringing the Bronco to Australia. Diane Craig, head of Ford's international markets division, stated in October 2022 that they are "never going to stop reviewing the possibility [of Bronco]" and that they have "got to see what [they] can deliver". Australian car enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the Bronco's potential release, and it is expected to generate high levels of interest if it does make it to the Australian market.
Landmass Formation: India, Australia, Antarctica Origins
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Bronco is not available in right-hand drive
The Ford Bronco has been a popular SUV in the US since its revival in 2020 after a 25-year hiatus. However, it has never been officially launched in Australia, and one of the main roadblocks to its introduction is the question of right-hand drive availability.
The Bronco has always been pitched as a left-hand drive vehicle, and Ford has deemed it too expensive to manufacture a right-hand drive version on the US production line given the relatively small numbers it would sell in Australia. The Australian market is unique in that it favours large cars that can handle workloads, towing, and off-roading, unlike the UK and Asia, which primarily use small city cars.
While Ford has never confirmed the Bronco for Australia, the company has left the door open for a local introduction. In 2022, Diane Craig, head of Ford's international markets division, stated that they were "never going to stop reviewing the possibility [of Bronco]" and that they had to "see what [they] could deliver." More recently, Ford CEO Jim Farley has indicated that a right-hand drive version may be given the go-ahead for production, telling the UK's Car Magazine, "The big Bronco will do right-hand drive and I think it’s worth a try."
Despite these hints, there is still no confirmation that a right-hand drive Bronco will be produced for the Australian market. Ford would need to sell more than 15,000 Bronco four-wheel drives in Australia to justify a factory-built right-hand drive program, and the cost of a local right-hand drive conversion would be high. The Bronco starts at $US39,630 ($AUD64,788), and with the rough markup of $35,000 to import and convert it, the price becomes $AUD99,788. Adding the luxury car tax brings the total cost to $105,554 before stamp duty and registration.
While the Bronco is not currently available in right-hand drive, there are options for Australians who wish to purchase one. The American Car Company on the Gold Coast offers the Ford Bronco range, and some Australians have chosen to modify their cars to fit the Bronco's large tyres. However, this is a massive job, and the Bronco is not officially sold in Australia.
Australia's Under-Five Mortality Crisis: Why So Low?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Ford CEO Jim Farley is hopeful the Bronco will come to Australia
Ford CEO Jim Farley has expressed optimism about bringing the Bronco to Australia, stating that a right-hand-drive version is possible. This is significant because Australia, as a right-hand-drive market, has been a roadblock to the Bronco's availability in the country. The Bronco has historically been left-hand drive only, but Farley's comments indicate a shift in strategy.
In an interview with Car Magazine in the UK, Farley said, "The big Bronco will do right-hand drive and I think it’s worth a try." He also referenced Ford's previous ownership of Land Rover, suggesting a return to the off-road vehicle segment.
The Bronco shares its DNA with the popular Ford Ranger, which has strong sales in Australia. This connection, along with the Bronco's popularity in the US, indicates that there could be demand for the Bronco in Australia. However, one challenge is the cost of converting the Bronco to right-hand drive, which would increase the overall cost of the vehicle.
Despite these challenges, Ford has left the door open for the Bronco's introduction to Australia. In 2022, Diane Craig, head of Ford's international markets division, said, "We're never going to stop reviewing the possibility [of Bronco]. We haven't said 'no'. We have got to see what we can do with this F-150 right-hand-drive conversion first."
While there are no firm plans or timelines yet, Ford CEO Jim Farley's comments offer hope for Australian fans of the Bronco, and it seems the possibility of seeing the Bronco on Australian roads is closer than ever.
Renewable Energy in Australia: A Growing Trend
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Bronco may be too expensive for the Australian market
The Ford Bronco has been a popular offering in the US, owing to its off-roading capabilities and retro design. While there has been demand for the Bronco in Australia, there are several factors that could make it too expensive for the Australian market.
Firstly, the Bronco has been manufactured exclusively as a left-hand drive vehicle, and Ford would need to invest in the capacity to produce a right-hand drive version for the Australian market. This would involve additional costs for engineering and manufacturing, which could increase the overall price of the vehicle.
Secondly, the Bronco faces competition from other vehicles in the Australian market, such as the Jeep Wrangler, which has enjoyed sales success despite significant price increases. The Bronco would need to be competitively priced to appeal to Australian consumers, especially considering the relatively small size of the Australian new car market compared to other right-hand drive markets.
Additionally, the Bronco would be subject to importation, conversion, and tax costs when brought into Australia. These additional costs would further increase the price of the vehicle, making it potentially less affordable for Australian consumers.
Furthermore, the Bronco has been reported to have low towing limits and fuel efficiency, which may be less desirable for Australian consumers who value vehicles that can handle workloads, towing, and off-roading.
Finally, the Bronco has a starting price of USD $39,630 in the US, which equates to approximately AUD $64,788. With the additional costs of conversion and taxation, the price could exceed AUD $100,000, making it a high-end purchase for Australian consumers.
While Ford has indicated a willingness to explore the possibility of a right-hand drive Bronco, the company has not confirmed any plans to introduce the vehicle to the Australian market due to these potential cost barriers.
Sizing Up: EU 42 to Australia's Fit
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Bronco is available in Australia through third-party sellers
Ford has never confirmed the Bronco for Australia, but it has left the door open for a local introduction. The Bronco is available in Australia through third-party sellers like the American Car Company on the Gold Coast. However, there are several factors that make it unlikely that Ford will sell the Bronco in Australia. One major factor is that the Bronco is not currently manufactured in a right-hand drive configuration, which is required for the Australian market. Ford has indicated that it is open to producing a right-hand drive version of the Bronco, but it is unclear if or when this will happen.
Another challenge is the cost of importing and converting the Bronco to Australian specifications. The Bronco starts at $US39,630 ($AUD64,788) in the US, but after applying the necessary markups for importation, conversion, and taxes, the price in Australia would be significantly higher, likely exceeding $AUD99,000. This high price could make it difficult for Ford to justify bringing the Bronco to Australia, especially considering the relatively small size of the Australian new car market compared to other right-hand drive markets.
Despite these challenges, there is still a strong demand for the Bronco in Australia, and it is believed that Ford will be able to sell every car it can import, regardless of the pricing. The Bronco is an iconic off-roader with a strong heritage and capabilities that appeal to Australian consumers. It shares its DNA with the top-selling Ranger ute, which was partially developed in Australia, and is expected to be a popular must-have 4x4 if it becomes available in the country.
The Bronco offers a range of features that make it a capable and appealing off-road vehicle. It comes with several roof options, including a removable hardtop system, and frameless doors that can also be easily removed. It offers a choice of petrol engines, including turbocharged and twin-turbocharged V6 options, and a 10-speed automatic transmission is available across the range. The Bronco also features Trail Control, a driver-activated cruise control system that helps navigate rough terrain by managing throttle and braking at individual wheels.
The Australian Government's Stolen Generation: An End in Sight?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Ford has not confirmed the Bronco for Australia, but it has hinted that it is possible to build a right-hand-drive version of the car, which would be necessary for it to be sold in Australia.
The biggest obstacle is that the Ford Bronco is not currently made in right-hand drive. Ford has deemed it too expensive to manufacture a right-hand-drive version of the Bronco in the US due to the small number of units that would be sold in Australia.
The Ford Bronco Heritage Edition costs around $US47,000 to $US47,500 in North America. This equates to about $AU72,000 to $AU72,500. With the cost of building a right-hand-drive version, the price would be pushed to over $AU100,000.
No, the Ford Bronco is currently only available in North America.
The Ford Bronco features a turbocharged engine, a removable roof, removable doors, and five standard drive modes: Sand, Slippery, Sport, Eco, and Normal.
