October 7 2016 for the last Australian made Ford

[Franco Cozzo]

BayFM can reveal employees are being summoned to meetings today to be told manufacturing will cease on that date. Despite knowing for two years the company would walk away from Australian manufacturing in 2016, workers who contacted our newsroom this morning said they were still in disbelief. Some were in tears after this morning's meeting. It's understood employees who find other jobs and leave prior to October 7 2015 will still be entitled to their full redundancy packages. A Ford spokesman this morning told BayFM News that while the majority of workers will cease on that date, others will remain until the end of October to prepare completed vehicles for delivery. He said staff were being told of the closure date today during normal annual planning meetings. The company will retain up to 1500 employees in Australia in areas such as design.

http://www.bayfm.com.au/news/local-n...n-closure-date

[Chopped]

Gee that's going to be a sad sight watching the last Falcon go down the line

[turbodewd]

massive bummer.

we were lucky for it to run this long considering how competitive global auto making is.

[PHATAL]

Damn you ford america for not selling the falcon over there in left hand drive.

[Iggle Piggle]

It's understood employees who find other jobs and leave prior to October 7 2015 will still be entitled to their full redundancy packages

[new2ford]

Ironically I was reading this morning that Skoda Auto, which makes over a million cars a year, is having trouble meeting the huge demand for the Octavia due to labour shortage. Czech industry is short of about 200,000 skilled industrial workers and they're looking at attracting skilled immigration.

When I was young, Australia was the land of opportunity to which people came from the old world for a better life and good jobs. How the worm has turned, tragic really.

[simon varley]

in addition, even though the Geelong guys will build their last engine and stamp their last panel before the 7th they will be kept on until that date if they so wish.

far from being in tears, everyone I've spoken to here is actually a bit relieved to now know a firm date.

[FairmontGS]

Originally Posted by simon varley

in addition, even though the Geelong guys will build their last engine and stamp their last panel before the 7th they will be kept on until that date if they so wish.

far from being in tears, everyone I've spoken to here is actually a bit relieved to now know a firm date.

Good for you and all the best.

Any idea what the last Ford down the line will be? Hope it's an XR6 Turbo fully optioned with special plaque.

[xr8territory]

I hope the last car is a base model Falcon, nothing fancy, just a basic family car in a salute to all the families who have owned and loved this Australian Icon.

[Franco Cozzo]

Any plans for a forum event like the AFF Nationals at Heathcote? Maybe to Broady and Geelong?

[HO 3]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Any plans for a forum event like the AFF Nationals at Heathcote? Maybe to Broady and Geelong?

.................Unless it's a Ford Au sanctioned or organised thing I hope not.

Cheers Mick

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by HO 3

.................Unless it's a Ford Au sanctioned or organised thing I hope not.

Cheers Mick

I hope there is, massive car cruise around that week or something.

[turbo4]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I hope there is, massive car cruise around that week or something.

It's called the Bathurst 1000.
Hopefully one of the Fords win Bathurst that weekend.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by xr8territory

I hope the last car is a base model Falcon, nothing fancy, just a basic family car in a salute to all the families who have owned and loved this Australian Icon.

Knowing Ford it will probably be a charity car of some description. My guess is a fully loaded XR8... Base models mean nothing to most.

[Carrion]

So sad

The end is near!!

[arronm]

Originally Posted by Smoke Pursuit

Knowing Ford it will probably be a charity car of some description. My guess is a fully loaded XR8... Base models mean nothing to most.

Unfortunately its FORD that means nothing to most. Fully reflected in the sales......

[1970XW351]

Originally Posted by Smoke Pursuit

Knowing Ford it will probably be a charity car of some description. My guess is a fully loaded XR8... Base models mean nothing to most.

Knowing Ford, they will probably balls it up ala the final Fairlane that was auctioned for charity... It was a 6 cylinder with a few options and sold for less than retail price. But here's hoping it's something special...

Sad day to be sure though.

[HO 3]

Originally Posted by 1970XW351

Knowing Ford, they will probably balls it up ala the final Fairlane that was auctioned for charity... It was a 6 cylinder with a few options and sold for less than retail price. But here's hoping it's something special...

Sad day to be sure though.

It doesn't really matter what kit the last car comes with.................in time it will become the most valuable Australian Ford built car ever.

Cheers Mick

[Joe5619]

Ford have no ****en idea... Of all the weeks to close the plant, Bathurst weekend??? WTF!!

[HO 3]

Originally Posted by Joe5619

Ford have no ****en idea... Of all the weeks to close the plant, Bathurst weekend??? WTF!!

More than likely the clash of dates has already been carefully considered by Ford management and is not a dumb coincidence.................

Cheers Mick

[Bossxr8]

I'm so lucky to have moved out to the proving ground so I don't have to go though the whole closure. It would have been really tough. I feel for my mates still working there.

[snopony]

make the last one a Bathurst special and bring it to the race. Very sad.

[malazn mafia]

Saddest day ever. End of an era. We can thank our government kindly for the one way free trade agreements that turned Aus into an automotive dumping ground for all sorts of overstock, factory seconds Chinese, Thai, Korean and whatever else third world crackerjack toys...

[mik]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

Saddest day ever. End of an era. We can thank our government kindly for the one way free trade agreements that turned Aus into an automotive dumping ground for all sorts of overstock, factory seconds Chinese, Thai, Korean and whatever else third world crackerjack toys...

Totally agree Mate, the whole lot of them over the decades led us down this path and now Australia is the asia/chinas trading whipping boy, its not just sad for the current people being hurt by this , its sad for future generations as well in my book.

[Dr Smith]

I also wonder if having to adopt FULL Euro5 by 1/11/16 was a factor in shut down date?

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

I also wonder if having to adopt FULL Euro5 by 1/11/16 was a factor in shut down date?

Thats exactly why.

[FairmontGS]

In Drive today the editorial hinted at a final fitting tribute to a great Australian Motoring Icon being planned by Ford.

http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/f...11-gjk8u6.html

[new2ford]

I gotta say I feel for you guys because I've been through this once before with the end of a local manufacturer that designed some excellent cars. I was won over to the Ford camp only to see the same thing happen all over again! Although in the long term it was predictable and inevitable, the way the country was being "restructured".

If a globalised "One Ford" is the way Ford HQ has to save itself, you can't begrudge them that, but unfortunately for the discerning consumer it leads to a bland, dumbed down product.

Looking back a decade there was still Ford's excellent European range and the talented Australian designs. Personally I was very keen to stay with Ford it was looking so bright - then this. Unfortunately it's all USA-directed so we won't see anything particularly good or interesting again.

Even in Europe, I see the once-excellent and top-selling Focus having its head chopped off by VAG group models that capture the needs of the market much better.

In Australia, there will be nothing from Ford that will replace the design excellence of the Falcon and Territory, though I hope the Australian-designed push into the 4WD market (Ranger, Everest) will give Toyota's dominance there a bit of a bruising. If you're buying in that 4WD/light-truck sector I reckon that's the best path for a Ford enthusiast in Australia and I certainly hope the local design centre is allowed to survive and keep doing its excellent stuff.

Unfortunately I'm not in that sector of the market so it has to be bye bye to Ford. As I said, been through it before and it's painful.

And as for what's happened to Australian industry I seriously worry for my kids where exactly this country is going to go in the future.

[PepeLePew]

Same day as the VFII reveal sheez....

Mixed news for the teams but at least it also gives many of us a full years notice to secure our last ride......I'm still dumbfounded the hole this will leave in our culture after living with these all my life and picking up where family and so many others had left off...you can't help but feel a little lost without knowing that AUSTRALIAN Falcon, a piece of us, will be sitting in the showroom when you need it. And that day you pick her up will never come again. To live with my young family growing and never being able to share my love of these things with the new generation by walking into the showroom again and then sharing that thrill and explaining 'this is one of ours and part of what it means to be Australian'. Thrills and all. Flaws and all. Who cares. She was ours.

[Bossxr8]

The good thing is the most experienced, best workers remain. And with plenty of time to get things right cause a lot of areas are not short of time.