Ford Opens Nanjing Test Centre

Wretched · 05-12-2017, 10:16 AM

Quote:

THE opening of an all-new proving ground in China has robbed Ford’s Australian proving ground of work – but it’s a move the top-secret You Yangs-based facility has welcomed.
Ford China last week announced it had opened the Nanjing Test Centre, a 66-hectare proving ground that features its own test track and an emissions-testing facility – two functions shared with Ford’s post-manufacturing role in Australia.
The car maker said the new eastern China test centre would help the company “speed up development of new products, services and technologies to better meet the driving requirements of customers in the region”.

“The NTC will enable Ford to develop the next generation of vehicles for China and Asia Pacific at a quicker pace than ever before,” it said.

“The centre includes close to 80 different types of real road surface conditions, a three-kilometre test track and a sophisticated emissions testing facility. It will also have a new laboratory for noise, vibration and harshness testing that will allow Ford to deliver vehicles that offer a smooth, quiet and relaxing driving experience.”
However, Nanjing’s opening was welcomed by Ford’s 900-hectare Australian facility, which will benefit from a less intense workload as a result.

“The opening of NTC will take some pressure off other global Ford proving grounds, including the You Yangs proving ground, which continue to support testing of vehicles for Chinese consumers,” Ford Australia spokesman Martin Gunsberg told Wheels, indicating the new Asian test facility would have a positive, rather than negative, effect here.
“Ford’s recently opened Asia Pacific product development centre based at Broadmeadows will continue to support new model programs for global markets and the centre remains the global lead for Ranger and Everest vehicles sold here in Australia,” he said.
“Ford’s global proving grounds, including the You Yangs proving ground, continue to support testing of vehicles for Chinese and Indian consumers.”

Ford’s Australian proving ground appears to have been instrumental in the development and tuning of the Chinese-market Ford Taurus midsize sedan, as well as a Ford Ka-based hatchback for India.
Late last year Ford tipped $450 million into its product development resources in Australia, including at the You Yangs proving ground.
“Recent and planned upgrades include new test facilities including durability, crash, noise vibration and harshness,” Gunsberg said. “We are also adding a new test area at the proving ground to support validation of a greater range of driver assist technologies.”

he Australian upgrade is expected to herald the introduction of even more driver-assist technologies for the Ford Ranger trade ute and the closely related Everest large SUV as they are updated in response to sharper competition – including the introduction next year of the Nissan Navara-based Mercedes-Benz X-Class.
Four-cylinder turbo diesel versions of the X-Class will arrive in Australia next year priced – and equipped – as a premium choice for cab-chassis, single-cab and dual-cab ute buyers.

When they are launched in Australia late next year, the turbo-diesel V6-engined version of the X-Class is expected to become one of the most expensive trade utes on sale in Australia.
It will have a bit of competition for the title, though, with Ford planning to introduce a high-performance Raptor-badged version of the Ranger next year, and HSV believed to be about to unveil a more performance-honed version of the Holden Colorado later this week.

https://www.wheelsmag.com.au/news/17...-work-to-china

Trump · 05-12-2017, 10:18 AM

That's the first nail...

stoodoo · 05-12-2017, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trump

That's the first nail...

Yep, taking pressure off the australian test facility means Ford can cut back on its workers here, maybe not straight away, but i believe it is inevitable. lower wages in china. It all comes down to profit, and if they can save money on wages.........

nuthin' fancy · 05-12-2017, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trump

That's the first nail...

Surely not the first.

The 'Button Plan' was the first. This is about #15.

Trump · 05-12-2017, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nuthin' fancy

Surely not the first.

The 'Button Plan' was the first. This is about #15.

Too true.

Dr Terry · 06-12-2017, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nuthin' fancy

Surely not the first.

The 'Button Plan' was the first. This is about #15.

No, the Button Plan was about the 3rd or 4th.

The writing was on the wall during our wage explosion in the early 70s, with the accompanying invasion of cheap Japanese cars at the same time.

This was one of the factors in GM-H cancelling the production of the GTR-X Torana.

Then we had the two petrol crises of the 70s, along with rampant inflation.

The Button Plan was a symptom, not a cause.

Dr Terry.

Bossxr8 · 05-12-2017, 03:57 PM

It's always funny how the guys with no clue about what is actually going on here, think they can comment about what they think it all means like they actually have a clue.

**Polyal** · 07-12-2017, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

It's always funny how the guys with no clue about what is actually going on here, think they can comment about what they think it all means like they actually have a clue.

Agreed. They have hired pretty heavily the last 12 months or so.

Doesnt mean they are immune, but it will be interesting to see what projects get split between the facilities.

vztrt · 07-12-2017, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

Agreed. They have hired pretty heavily the last 12 months or so.

Doesnt mean they are immune, but it will be interesting to see what projects get split between the facilities.

Their problem is they're heavily weighted to the ranger/everst program. But the positive is that it makes money and sells in high numbers and that it's constantly expanding variants.

Mind you if they got another program of the ranger platform size they wouldnt have the room.

Trump · 05-12-2017, 04:22 PM

For some odd reason, Australians have this sense of "nah (XYZ) won't/can't happen here, we're special". Despite some impressive contributions by people within Ford Australia, Ford Motor Company is an American corporation, with an American way of doing business. The American way of doing business is to cut the costs of doing business by any means. Moving high labour cost business units to countries where the cost of labour is far lower is the first rule in the US business playbook.

The Australian engineering outfit at the moment is a necessary evil in their eyes; they are wearing the cost of keeping it running because China isn't up to scratch yet. As such, don't for a second think that Ford HQ won't pull the rug from under the Australian operation when the Chinese engineering teams get up to speed and begin producing work of comparable quality to their Australian counterparts.

Making a comment like that doesn't require any inside knowledge, it's Business USA 101.

**DFB FGXR6** · 05-12-2017, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trump

Despite some impressive contributions by people within Ford Australia, Ford Motor Company is an American corporation, with an American way of doing business. The American way of doing business is to cut the costs of doing business by any means. Moving high labour cost business units to countries where the cost of labour is far lower is the first rule in the US business playbook..

Whilst I do agree with Bossxr8's comment the bolded above is VERY relevant. Ford and GM are masters of this and don't seem to hide it well.

XRtowcar · 05-12-2017, 05:03 PM

You Yang test ground will become an awesome club race circuit.

marty351 · 05-12-2017, 05:30 PM

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Originally Posted by XRtowcar

You Yang test ground will become an awesome club race circuit.

Looking into my crystal ball, I can see a housing estate.

**GO FURTHER** · 05-12-2017, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marty351

Looking into my crystal ball, I can see a housing estate.

Holden's Lang Lang and Toyota's Angelsea proving grounds appear in my tea cup leaves as home sweet homes too.

Syndrome · 05-12-2017, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GO FURTHER

Holden's Lang Lang and Toyota's Angelsea proving grounds appear in my tea cup leaves as home sweet homes too.

Chrysler's/Mitsubishi's test track at Tailem Bend is set to be a race track.

https://www.thebend.com.au/

Nu66et · 05-12-2017, 06:49 PM

Are engineers in China actually cheaper though?

Trump · 05-12-2017, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nu66et

Are engineers in China actually cheaper though?

About 1/10th the cost.

383hq · 06-12-2017, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trump

About 1/10th the cost.

Maybe a decade ago.
More like 40-60% cheaper now, and rising quickly.
South Korean engineers are now more expensive than US engineers.

The problem is not only about cost, but also about growth.

Most companies see developing much higher growth elsewhere.

I laugh at environmental testing in Nanjing. For those that have been there it is a tier 3 city population wise, But at best you can see maybe 6 mile due pollution. On the clearest day, the sun was just an outline.

vztrt · 05-12-2017, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nu66et

Are engineers in China actually cheaper though?

Cheaper but you need lots more of them...and even then not that good.

Trump · 05-12-2017, 11:32 PM

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Originally Posted by vztrt

Cheaper but you need lots more of them...and even then not that good.

For now...

b0son · 05-12-2017, 11:36 PM

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Originally Posted by vztrt

Cheaper but you need lots more of them...and even then not that good.

IF we were as good as we'd like to think we are, maybe we wouldn't have to put up with 'they all do that' whenever we tried to exercise our warranty rights...

vztrt · 06-12-2017, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b0son

IF we were as good as we'd like to think we are, maybe we wouldn't have to put up with 'they all do that' whenever we tried to exercise our warranty rights...

Well ford are the only cars that have issues.

marty351 · 07-12-2017, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vztrt

Well ford are the only cars that have issues.

At least ford have a squeaks and rattles facility.

**Mechan1k** · 08-12-2017, 09:51 AM

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Originally Posted by vztrt

Cheaper but you need lots more of them...and even then not that good.

Off-shoring is always about quantity not quality.

vztrt · 08-12-2017, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mechan1k

Off-shoring is always about quantity not quality.

Then they would be going to Thailand, or south Africa.

383hq · 09-12-2017, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mechan1k

Off-shoring is always about quantity not quality.

the Camry has been off-shored from Australia to Japan ?

mr smith · 05-12-2017, 07:24 PM

Australian engineering 90% gone in 10 years.

jpd80 · 05-12-2017, 08:54 PM

Time will tell if Australia is given more projects or not...

Adamz Ghia · 05-12-2017, 10:06 PM

Given the size difference between the two surely China couldn’t replace You Yangs?

jpd80 · 06-12-2017, 07:24 AM

"Ford Motor Co. will pump 50 new vehicles into China over the next eight years as the company tries to grow its share in the world’s largest market. Executive Chairman Bill Ford and CEO Jim Hackett announced their plans in China on Tuesday. They include introducing eight new SUVs, and at least 15 electrified Ford and Lincoln vehicles, some of which will be built and sold exclusively in China.

By 2025, the company plans to offer more than 50 new Ford and Lincoln vehicles in China, emphasizing SUVs and the electric vehicles pushed by the Chinese government. That number includes both brand-new product launches and next-generation models of vehicles the company already sells in China. Ford will also assemble five more vehicles in China for the Chinese market starting in 2019. Those vehicles include a previously announced Lincoln SUV, and Ford’s first all-electric small SUV"

http://www.detroitne...hina/108326432/.