Gorman: Territory key to exports

[fpv_gtho]

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...256F5C0004C710

Ford marks its Territory

Substitute: Tom Gorman admitted that some Territory sales had been substitutional for Falcon.

Ford says Territory – not Falcon or exports – is the key to its future

By MARTON PETTENDY 30 November 2004


FORD says the sales success of its Territory four-wheel drive wagon will give it an increasing advantage over Holden – especially if the downturn in Australia’s large-car market continues.

Ford Australia president Tom Gorman said Territory’s high-volume sales strategy would continue to deliver more dividends than Holden’s low-volume, niche approach to the booming SUV market.

"I wouldn’t say the large-car market decline is a positive for Ford because we’re still heavily dependent on Falcon," he said.

"But I would say the team saw it coming years ago and positioned ourselves well to take advantage – of not only the declining large-car market but the increasing appetite for SUVs and cross-over vehicles. And we’ve been able capitalise on that.

"We made different investment decisions. Look at the commercial segment in which this year they launched the Adventra and Crewman, and some other products. One has done well and one hasn’t.

"We’ve gone after a larger segment – our strategy has always been in the volume segments – and that puts us in large cars, small cars and SUVS.

"So we’re extremely well positioned – we don’t play in all the segments but we do a pretty good job in the top three. So from that perspective you could say we’re better positioned than they are, but the flipside is they’re an exporter and we’re not. They fill their capacity in other ways."

Mr Gorman admitted that some Territory sales had been substitutional for Falcon, but said it had achieved Ford’s forecast 20,000-per-annum running rate and was on target to become Australia’s 15th best-selling nameplate in 2004 after only six months of sales.

But he is adamant the large-car segment as a whole – the only market to show serious signs of decline in 2004 – would remain robust in the long term.

"I’m not one of these guys who think it (the large-car segment) is going to go away," he said.

"I think the Australian consumer is always going to have an appetite for large, rear-wheel drive, performance-driven vehicles and fortunately for the consumer we make great cars in that segment.

"As long as there’s fresh and exciting new products that meet consumer demands, the large-car market will always be there. But fleet markets will make the decision, not private buyers.

"It may deteriorate further but we don’t anticipate a massive decline. We need to keep a close eye on wagon in the future to make sure if it has a place in the line-up or not. Those are obvious questions that we think about all the time when it comes to the future of what we produce at Broadmeadows."

Mr Gorman said Ford would export about 10,000 vehicles in 2005 and was actively seeking export deals for either Falcon or its platform.

"It’s no surprise: we think we have a great product on our hands and would like to sell it elsewhere," he said.

"Maybe not export it but we’d like to see other people use that platform and we’re working on it.

"There’s a long distance between interest and opportunity. There are a lot of people interested and we have to take that interest and make it a real deal.

"We’re not there yet but to say that we’re not working on it would be a lie – we’re just trying to find customers."

[SlickHolden]

I was thinking when they would ship it around.

[fpv_gtho]

Well exports from Broadmeadows are still awhile away, i think the major hint there would be possibly building Territory's in like China etc. and other overseas locations. The US is out of the question as theyve got the Freestyle

[charged]

Yeah the yanks have the freestyle or lack of it and its built on a fwd platform I think.Our Terra shits all over it

[fpv_gtho]

I think its based off the Mazda6, which yeah as you said is FWD based. Then theres also the Ford Fusion and Ford 500 that will also be based off the Mazda6.

When Polites originally pitched the idea to Detroit, we were a couple of months ahead of the US's Freestyle project and i think EVERYONE was agreeing about which was the better car.

[charged]

See the Yanks do it again,the terra design is a much better design.but they go with their design-too proud or stupid.Probably a good thing though if they got involved would of turn out a wallowing ship,rather than a suv with decent dynamics.There are absolutely heaps on the roads in S.A,dont see many adventuras.When the diesel comes out its a toss up between the terra and a Prado,Terra just needs a little bit more ground clearance and underbody protection.(scrape,crunch-oh shit)

[fpv_gtho]

i think seriously if off roading is even a medium priority, you should go for the Prado. Ford developoed the Territory for people who would do light offroading about 5% of the time....so that should be a major consideration IMO. heaps of people have bagged the shit out of the territory's offroad capabilities, despite trying to push it as far as a cruiser. but as you said, if the diesel comes out and theres the rumours of the higher riding suspension package, then i guess it comes back into consideration. as it stands now, people are talking about aftermarket suspension kits etc. screwing around with the DSC settings as the AWD is simply 3 open diff's with the DSC controlling traction.

well the US is adamant about releasing a range of retro styled cars based off the Mazda6's FWD platform in both AWD and FWD, i think theres around 10 different models planned with a Mazda version of the Freestyle as well so i guess it was inevitable. the problem came i guess with the Territory having half its development already done before Detroit realised what was going on. chances are the Freestyle was around the same mark, so either wouldve been costly to pull the plug on

[charged]

Funny that even hard core 4wd people are always bagging my surf,soft cock 4wd etc,etc.I tell them its basically a hilux witha diffrent body and a lot more extras,goes everywhere they go,even pulled my mates nissan patrol(air lockers,lift kit,etc) out of a bog in sand,told him Im taking my front hook off cause i never need it cause the Surfs unstoppable for some reason he couldnt see the funny side if it

[fpv_gtho]

yeah its only been the last 5 years that people have stopped making 4WD's somewhat unstoppable offroad. Jeep now are even developing a model that doesnt have to pass the famed Rubicon trail.

but really i guess for most offroad stuff, a good diesel, enough ground clearance and low range will just about get you there

[SlickHolden]

It will fit in good in the asian market, It's one of the best looking suv's i have seen, I think cause they are small they like ground clearence to feel taller

I sat in a Adventra today and i didn't get the feeling it was off the ground a great deal, Still had that wagon feel not a big ground clearence, But after i got out i noticed it might have been taller then i first thought, My bottom lip was at the height of the roof.

[charged]

The only reason I have a full on 4wd is because of the boat and some semi seriuos offroading.If i didnt do any serious off roading I would have a Terra in the driveway tommorrow(if it had a diesel).I havent driven one yet because i know they drive so well.Absolutely love the look of them also.

[crisis]

Originally Posted by charged

Funny that even hard core 4wd people are always bagging my surf,soft cock 4wd etc,etc.I tell them its basically a hilux witha diffrent body and a lot more extras,goes everywhere they go,even pulled my mates nissan patrol(air lockers,lift kit,etc) out of a bog in sand,told him Im taking my front hook off cause i never need it cause the Surfs unstoppable for some reason he couldnt see the funny side if it

Nothing wrong with the Surf (Forerunner). The older Hiluxs had front and rear live axles but my old Forerunner was pretty unstoppable on the beach. Easy to put a lift kit on for more serious off roading to. How did your mate bog a Patrol with a lift kit and airlockers. I would be giving him some serious grief.

[fpv_gtho]

Originally Posted by SlickHolden

It will fit in good in the asian market, It's one of the best looking suv's i have seen, I think cause they are small they like ground clearence to feel taller

I sat in a Adventra today and i didn't get the feeling it was off the ground a great deal, Still had that wagon feel not a big ground clearence, But after i got out i noticed it might have been taller then i first thought, My bottom lip was at the height of the roof.

the Territory would have its merits (or disadvantages, however you see it) from the fact its a tall wagon design, not the "normal" wagon design of the adventra. makes them harder to see past, but i guess provides a better "high driving" position

[charged]

Originally Posted by crisis

Nothing wrong with the Surf (Forerunner). The older Hiluxs had front and rear live axles but my old Forerunner was pretty unstoppable on the beach. Easy to put a lift kit on for more serious off roading to. How did your mate bog a Patrol with a lift kit and airlockers. I would be giving him some serious grief.

Tyre pressures to high,shit loads of gear in it,thinks hes a better driver than he really is,yes i gave him absolute buckets of shit about it,hes got rid of it now,has a troopy with a camper conversion.

[fpv_gtho]

that sounds like trouble

they reccomend keeping the revs up a bit driving through sand dont they?