New vehicle sales are down for Ford in Australia and New Zealand so Ford are saying that they will update their entire lineup in this part of the world by 2017. The plan is to introduce 3 new models to help increase sales however what’s clear from all the hype is that Ford Australia will become a vehicle import base rather than a manufacturer and builder.
 
Ford’s goal is to become the most respected automotive brand in Australia and New Zealand. What may assist in keeping Ford at the top of their game particularly in this part of the world is their plan to keep Ford Australia’s design and engineering workforce playing a vital role in developing future Fords for Australia and New Zealand. Even though they will end up being built in other parts of the world.
 
A current example of this new arrangement is the Ford Ranger Ute. It was mostly developed by Ford Australia but built at Ford’s manufacturing base in Thailand.

The next vehicle in the same vein will be the Ford Everest. This is a seven-seat version of the Ranger that is being developed and engineered in Australia but will be built elsewhere.

It’s designed and engineered to be a larger off road SUV with distinctive chunky looks, rugged capability and genuine toughness.
 
Ford have invested nearly 2 billion dollars into research and development for their Australian operation over the last 6 years not to mention how much the Australian Government has tipped in so it will be good to have vehicles designed and engineered by the people who know what we want in a vehicle. I guess we will find out soon enough.
 
November 2014