Ford: Magic Million in 2007...

[adrenaline]

Ford boss says the one million new-vehicle sales year will be 2007 at the earliest
By NEIL McDONALD 22 December 2005

www.goauto.com.au

THE magic million sales forecast won't happen this year and is unlikely to happen next year, according to Ford Australia president Tom Gorman.

Mr Gorman believes the total market will fall just shy of one million new vehicle sales, but it will still be a record year and the fourth year in a row of bumper sales.

Based on the runaway sales performance throughout the year, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries had tipped a one million year but since October there has been a softening in retail interest.

This has prompted some analysts to suggest the boom times over the past few years have finally plateaued.

According to last month’s VFACTS industry figures supplied by the FCAI, the year-to-date market was 908,992, which means the December sales month would have to deliver more than 90,000 sales to achieve one million.

Based on Ford’s own internal data, Mr Gorman believes the market this month will be in the 80,000-unit range with the total 2005 figure likely to be around 990,000 to 995,000.

Unlike some other car industry leaders, Mr Gorman has consistently maintained a more conservative outlook on sales throughout the year.

Next year, he believes the market will reach 980,000, which is also in line with some leading economic forecasters.

Buoyed by new product and strong consumer sentiment, Mr Gorman believes 2006 will still be a strong year, with some strengthening in the large car segment because of new arrivals.

Like this year, small cars too are expected to dominate, commanding about 22 per cent of the market, the same as this year.

This year buyers have benefited from a raft of new products, favourable exchange rates and tariffs, which Mr Gorman believes had subsequently affected the large car segment by enabling imported products to be pitched at more aggressive prices.

The ageing of some of the large car contenders this year had also weighed against the segment, he said.

This had drawn away some Falcon and Commodore buyers to vehicles like mid-size offerings like the Honda Accord and Mazda6.

Ford expects the arrival of the new Camry, VE Commodore and the growing awareness of the Mitsubishi 380 and BF Falcon would help lead a surge of interest in large cars through 2006.

"So on balance, there are a lot of reasons for optimism," he said.

The Falcon, despite the growing interest in Territory, has managed to hold its sales ground this year.

"We were able to hold our share of the large car segment; relatively flat despite a one percentage point movement," he said.

"I view that as a success because obviously some of our customers have drifted over to buy Territorys."

Based on year-to-date sales figures to November, the Falcon had a 34.9 per cent share of the large car market, compared to a YTD share last year of 35.9 per cent so although that has been some Falcon leakage to Territory it is shows conquest sales for the marque.

Although Ford is pleased with the performance of its larger vehicles, Mr Gorman said there was still room for improvement with Fiesta and Focus.

Despite managing 825 Focus sales last month, Ford has had issues with the model mix as many buyers are opting for high series cars over the entry-level CL.

Mr Gorman said that once this was addressed in the first quarter of 2006 he was confident of achieving around 2000 Focus sales a month.

Ford will also leverage the brand with the arrival next year of the XR5 turbo Focus and the company is known to be looking at introducing the Focus Cabrio, a hardtop convertible based on the Vignale show car shown at last year’s Paris motor show.

A station wagon and a possible diesel variant are also being considered.

"We think we have a great car," he said. "The XR5 presents a great opportunity for us to build a halo and we’ve got a lot more plans to extend the brand on Focus but we’ve got to get some traction."

Gorman must be laughing pretty hard at those holden idiots Holden were bitchin during July/ August that Ford was all wrong...lol they spoke too soon now they look like a pack of retards...well to me they do lol

And 2000 focus sales per month next year...great that theyve finally worked out the supply issue...

BRING THE VIGNALE...that car rocks!!....astra Convertible destroyer!!!

[SlickHolden]

So he is thinking without coming out and saying it the VE will sell big when it arrives in late 06. and into 07.

[adrenaline]

Personally i think he is wrong...the VE will sell big big big when it hits the market and theres also talks of a new camry coming so the whole asian community will be replacing their cars...and with the focus tipped for 2000 a month, the S3X arriving to deal with the territory...i think 1 million seems very much on the cards

[Mr. Jinx]

Originally Posted by ADRENALINE

theres also talks of a new camry coming so the whole asian community will be replacing their cars...

haha, good call. Sooo true!

[SlickHolden]

I am shocked the 1mill didnt go this year, But with the fuel going up people were even spending less when they went out, (Good deals at Shops now).
I think the S3X might sell about 900 a months?

[adrenaline]

well when the kluger went on sale it managed about 600/month...lets just say that the S3X is better than the Kluger, and it wears a Holden badge, so id say possibly 1000...depends on if they market it as a family car like the tezza...or as a bush basher like the adventra...

[SlickHolden]

Both Ford and Holden got them right the Tezza is a Family car, And the Addy (A Adventra owner called it that) Is a bush basher type car.

[SlickHolden]

That was something i was saying to Fpv_Gtho. I look up and down the road and see so many with Toyota's and some might have a Falcon or Commodore there also but it's rare, And even after some are the 3-5th Generation Aussie they still keep up that which they have been brought up on.
Take my family My father first cars were Chev's, Then he bought 2 Holden,
My mums first was a Mini Torana, Gemini, RX-3, Then VC-VB Commodore,
My sister Mitsubishi, 2 Camira's Cortina, Vl Calais, Proton Gen2, My brother Suzuki GSX-R 750, Gemini, Mitsubishi magna, Cortina, EF Fairmont, BA Fairmont, Me Gemini, VP Commodore. No ties to any one in our family even though my mum likes Holden's and so does my sister, My brother is a ford man but likes the looks of Holden's, I'm A Holden man who loves Holden's but has driven more Fords then Holden's. We are 4th gen Aussie, Take a 4th Gen Aussie Asain family, If they don't have a Toyota in the drive I'll die of shock. It's strange they keep with them well over generations no matter how long they been in one country 100 years even.

[adrenaline]

Yea i dont get it...Asians and their toyotas...how many would u see in an XR8 or SS?? V8 too powerful...4cyl. economical camry much betta

I wonder if the Ford fusion (US) will destory some of the camrys dominance...its 30HP more...and every fusion V6 has a 6 speed auto...compared to camry's 5 speeder there...and its less $$ than a camry V6 im pretty sure...

[Mr. Jinx]

I ONCE saw an asian guy in a VT SS....i just about collapsed lol
I think its part of asian culture to stick to their "own" groups

The odd thing is, I'm asian (not chinese asian - I was born in Sri Lanka), but there's nothing more I love more than a Holden. cept HSV and CSV . I dunno what it is about them....I just loved them, ever since I saw one for the first time in '97 (when I moved over). I guess its their brutal charm...explains Jeremy Clarkson

Oh, my old man (hes been here for about 25 years - also from Sri Lanka) has had a few Commodores in his time. We've seen about 3 VR/VSs go through our family since 97. Then he goes off and buys a BA Fairmont, and then a friggin Ford Escape. We might be getting a new car early next year, but I can't back purchasing a Commodore until the VE

[SlickHolden]

Keep at him to grab a VE

Does anyone know kyle kwong the chef on foxtel?? Her mother and her shocked me something bad he mum has a better Aussie accent them me and they dont know how to speak Asian When i watch them i think how did they loose touch it was like they just got cut from anything to there past's, Both were born here and i think even her mother parents might have been to.

[adrenaline]

kyle kwong?? Is she famous or just a foxtel thing....lol ive never heard of her..We got rid of foxtel ages ago..but that IQ thing or wateva it is looks alright...

[SlickHolden]

She is a big Aussie Chef but don't call her chef she goes nuts.

That IQ things is really a crock better off buying a DVD recorder with Hard drive at-least then you dont have to pay for it monthly when you bought it once.

[Colty]

Off the top of my head I can think of TWO asians driving an Australian car. One was a Monaro, that had been riced up a bit, and I think the other one was a BA Falcon. They seem to like their 4WD's alot too.

[adrenaline]

Originally Posted by Colty

They seem to like their 4WD's alot too.

Yea...Prado, Kluger, Land cruiser