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Carsales Staff22 Dec 2016
NEWS

Ford boss opens updated Dev Centre

Global boss in Australia for Broadmeadows' revamp re-opening

Santa arrived at Broadmeadows a few days early this morning.

But instead of sporting a white beard or even his once trademark power mullet, global President and CEO, Ford Motor Company, Mark Fields was in ribbon-cutting mode – at least in spirit.

Fields was Down Under to officiate at the opening of Ford's new Asia Pacific Product Development Centre – located at the company's freshly refurbished Broadmeadows headquarters. Part of a $50m project, the new facility features what Ford terms "state-of-the-art virtual design and engineering capability".

The new Product Development complex will be "the centrepiece of Australia's most advanced automotive development campus.

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"The centre positions Ford as the automaker with the most comprehensive capability to design and engineer vehicles in Australia," the company stated.

Fields also announced a 50 per cent increase in research and development Down Under. Ford will spend $450m in 2017 across a range of vehicle and technology projects for the APAC region and other world markets.

To resource the development projects, Ford will increase its local R&D teams to 2000. This figure includes 1750 engineers, designers and technicians.

"Ford is investing heavily in new products and mobility solutions globally to make our customers' lives better, and Australia is a key centre of innovation for us," said Fields.

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Ford also announced expansions at its Asia Pacific Design Studio in Broadmeadows and the upgrading of the Lara Proving Ground. Some of the changes are to allow the company to "test a greater range of driver assist technologies".

Not surprisingly there were plenty of pollies on hand also.

Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Greg Hunt MP told media: "What we've seen today is that there is a long term future for the automotive sector in Australia. It's essentially in the research and development, design, the engineering side.

"Australians can be and are world-class automotive engineering researchers, developers, designers, and engineers. This is a $450 million research and development commitment for next year alone."

"The significant investments announced today by Ford Motor Company are a clear indication of the future direction and great opportunities for the automotive industry in Australia," Hunt said.

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"The future of advanced manufacturing in Australia lies in value-adding activities from product concept, research and development, design and efficient production systems… Being part of the global automotive supply chain and R&D process is important for jobs and local business opportunities," he stated.

Ford says the new Development Centre will benefit from the company's 'Cave Automated Virtual Environment'. This system allows Ford engineers to "work in a detailed virtual environment to improve speed and efficiency", the company said.

The Australian campus will also incorporate a new 'maker space' to "help employees pursue even more innovations much like the company's TechShop in the US".

Ford says more than 8000 new inventions were submitted by its employees in 2016, a 40 per cent increase from the previous year and more than 90 per cent up on 2014.

"Ford is investing in new products, advanced innovations and emerging mobility solutions for Australians – all while inspiring people inside and outside Ford to develop the next great ideas," said Graeme Whickman, president and CEO, Ford of Australia.

"Our new R&D investments and strengthening local business will lead to even more innovations to help our customers move around more freely while making their lives better."

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Written byCarsales Staff
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