By EWAN KENNEDY
8 May 2006

Ford Australia has been elevated in the global Ford world, becoming the centre of excellence for design in the Asia-Pacific and African region. This major new direction for the company will see the spending of some $1.8 billion dollars on engineering and design projects over the next ten years.

Ford Australia says it has worked with the Australian federal government and the Victorian state government to ensure the successful outcome of the investments.

New facilities and the expansion of existing ones required for research and development on new projects seem sure to result in greatly increased employment opportunities for many Australians.

One of the largest of the new projects to be handled by Ford Australia will be a new light-commercial vehicle. To be sold in more than 80 countries, this vehicle will initially be sold as a pickup, though various other body formats may later flow from the design. Eventually, some 400,000 of these light commercials are likely to be built annually, in various locations, worldwide.

Even better news from the point of view of Ford fans in Australia is that the next model Falcon will be designed here. There had been talk that the new generation Falcon could have been an American design and may even have had front-wheel drive.

On the contrary, the new Falcon will definitely use rear-wheel drive. It may be built in right- and left-hand drive models and could even be exported to the USA. New Falcon will almost certainly be exported to other countries, though in the early days of this project it’s too soon to comment on which ones may receive it.

The next generation Ford Territory will also be designed in this country. Indeed, the huge success of the Territory is one of the things that drew the attention of Ford’s head office to the ability of Australian engineers and designers. Thus being one of the triggers for this major strategic advancement for Ford Australia.

Speaking on the new direction Ford Australia is taking, Mr Bill Ford, Ford Motor Company Chairman and CEO, (and the great-grandson of Henry Ford, the founder of the company) said, "As we work to build Ford Motor Company's global competitiveness, it is critical that we continue to invest and grow our capabilities in the Asia Pacific region.

"The engineering experience and capability we have in Australia is a strategic advantage for Ford and it is important that we use this great resource not just to benefit Australian customers, but to benefit customers in markets around the world.

"The skills and technologies available in the Australian marketplace are some of the best in our global organisation," concluded Mr Ford.