Ford's near future plans

[jpd80]

Although Ford is traversing a very troubling sales slump, I suspect that there is light at the end
of the tunnel and that a lot of future plans will start to become apparent by the latter half of 2011.

In the near time, the agenda appears to be:
- Smooth launch of Territory and expected pent up demand for diesel and 6-speed auto I-6
- Introduction of EcoLPI engine on Falcon sedan and Ute, recovery of fleet sales
- Elimination of approx 3,000 excess vehicles around Broadmeadows.

Intel suggests that the new SZ Territory is now in full production and being built 1 to 1 with
Falcon instead of the usual 2 to 1 mix. On its own, this doesn’t seem much of a change but
that now means approximately 125 Territory and 125 Sedan/Utes per day built on 3-day week,
that adds up to a whole lot of Territory stock over the next 4 weeks, 1500 odd and around
950 sedans and 450 Utes. Word is the new EcoLPI engine goes into production this week
And this leads me to think that a good proportion of those sedans and utes will be LPG.
So hopefully, Ford will be geared to meet an expected inrush of buyers that have been
Waiting for the new Territory and gas fed Falcons.

Ford has announced a return to 5-day production week starting July so they are expecting
A big lift in sales between then and now including elimination excess stock in readiness for
An expected sales bonanza, I hope the plan comes off for them.


Adding to that, the new global Focus arrives jammed packed full of features to get buyers back into the show room.

A few months on and the new Aussie designed Ranger is here to take on Hilux, great news for truck buyers.

So what do people think, is Ford's goose still cooked or can they turn these grim days into a faint memory......