Ford recommits to local R&D
Blue Oval to redeploy 160 factory workers to design and engineering roles as Australian Ford manufacturing endsFord Australia has announced it will redeploy 160 manufacturing workers to new design and engineering roles in the company’s product development operations across Victoria, after the last Falcon and Territory models roll off the Broadmeadows production line today.
Ford says the 160 new design and engineering jobs will bring to 1100-plus the number of designers and engineers working for the company's ongoing Asia-Pacific Product Development Centre in northern Melbourne, and to 2000 the number of total Ford staff in Australia by late 2017.
With $300 million spent on local research and development this year alone, Ford claims it is investing more than any other car-maker in Australian R&D, and will become Australia’s leading automotive employer by the end of next year, when Toyota and Holden also cease local manufacturing.
Ending 91 years of Australian manufacturing – beginning with the Model T in 1925, followed by Ford's first Australianised model, the XM Falcon in 1964 -- today's factory closures in Melbourne and Geelong will see 600 workers depart the company.
Until recently, about workforce of about 800 has been building around 80 Falcons and Territories a day for Australia and New Zealand – down from a peak of around 14,550 in the early 1990s, when in excess of 100,000 Falcons were still produced annually.
About 100 of them have already been redeployed into R&D jobs, with a further 60 set to be transferred to Ford Asia-Pacific’s growing vehicle development operations working on global car programs in Broadmeadows, Geelong and Ford's 950-hectacre You Yangs proving ground at nearby Lara.
Many will remain at Broadmeadows, where Ford Australia's 1960s head office is being transformed into Ford’s new regional Product Development Centre, which oversees the creation of global vehicles like the Ranger and Everest, and regional models like India's Figo, China's Escort and North America's Taurus.
Of the 600-odd manufacturing employees who will get redundancy packages today, about a third have new jobs to go to, a third do not and a third will remain under-employed in part-time or casual work.
Ford says its $10 million investment in government job-creation schemes has generated twice as many job pledges expected from employers in the Geelong and Broadmeadows areas, many in the health care industry.
While many of Ford Australia's 100 component suppliers have diversified, efforts by the company to find new export opportunities within the Ford world have been successful for only about 20.
“Today is an emotional day for all of us at Ford," said Ford Australia president and CEO, Graeme Whickman.
"We are saying goodbye to some of our proud and committed manufacturing employees and marking an end to 91 years of manufacturing in Australia. But, as the country’s largest automotive investor and soon employer, we have been able to transfer many employees from our plants to our design, engineering and testing facilities across Victoria.
“We also appreciate the partnership and assistance provided by our unions and the federal and state governments as we have delivered retraining and other assistance programs for our team members.
"Ford will remain a major presence in Australia and we will carry forward the legacy of our manufacturing team by continuing to design and engineer world-class vehicles for Australia and the world for many years to come,” said Whickman.
Ford also says it remains committed to the rollout of 20 new or refreshed vehicles by 2020, which is similar to Holden's promise of 24 new of upgraded models in the same timeframe.
While the end of local Ford manufacturing will dominate headlines today, Holden axed production of its Cruze small-car on the same day. Spelling the end of about 270 Holden jobs, the last Cruze rolled off the line at Holden's Elizabeth factory in South Australia around 8:30am – about an hour before the last Falcon and Territory were produced.
Holden's homegrown Commodore and Toyota's Altona-built Camry will follow by the end of next year, marking the end of Australian car-making.
Related reading:
Ford boss fronts media as factory closes
Ford Falcon: From Catastrophe to icon
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Ford Falcon 1964 Review
Last Aussie Fords almost done
Falcon Friday: Fast facts
Falcon Friday: Ford R&D 1960s-style
Top Five: Falcon race wins
Falcon Friday: Ford’s five finest Falcons
Falcon Friday: Why we’ll miss the Ford factory
Falcon Friday: History of Ford Australia’s large car
Ford Falcon Ute: A rich history
Ford retires Falcon Ute
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