Minister misfires on four-cylinder Falcon
BY BARRY PARK | 6th Dec 2012
Speaking at prime minister Julia Gillard’s announcement today that she has appointed former Ford Indonesia president Will Angove as the Australian car industry’s first-ever advocate, charged with building sales particularly to fleets, Mr Combet failed to mention the Falcon among a crop of new-generation four-cylinder cars wearing the ‘Made in Australia’ tag.
Mr Combet’s oversight has done little to quell speculation that Ford Australia may cease production in Australia after its current-generation Falcon reaches the end of its life cycle in 2016.
A spokeswoman for the minister said he was “answering a question on his feet” and merely overlooked the four-cylinder Falcon’s name in his list of fuel-sipping Australian-made cars.
"I don't think you can read anything into that," she said.
Asked if the advocate would need to promote sales of locally made six-cylinder cars to fleet buyers with strict ‘no six-cylinder’ policies, the minister ran through a list of alternatives they could consider.
“I’ve got a (four-cylinder) hybrid Camry, it’s the best car I’ve ever had,” Mr Combet said.
“Holden is manufacturing the Cruze in Australia, and it’s an excellent car with great fuel economy, enormously well designed and performing vehicle, and second or third in the Australian market.
“There are plenty of options. Ford are manufacturing the Territory, too, for fleets that are seeking a larger utility vehicle.
“There are plenty of options available,” he said, failing to name the 2.0-litre Falcon as a contender.
Mr Combet said it was important to get more fleet buyers, particularly in certain states, to think local.
“The Commonwealth, Victorian and NSW governments, about 72 per cent of the fleets of those governments … are Australian manufactured vehicles,” he said.
“When you look around at other states like Queensland and Western Australia and New South Wales, the level of Australian-manufactured vehicles in those fleets … there are some great business opportunities in the years ahead.”Meanwhile, Mr Angove, an Australian who previously headed up US car-making giant Ford’s Indonesian operations, is now set with the task of boosting sales of locally made cars to government and business fleets, as well as working with local car makers to “win new markets”.
However, the finer details of how the advocacy scheme will work remain unclear.
GoAuto contacted Mr Angove to ask him about his new role, but he did not return phone calls.
According to Mr Combet, Mr Angove will also work with “small- and medium-sized component makers to boost their capabilities to compete in new businesses in other markets”.
He said Mr Angove’s appointment as auto industry advocate was foreshadowed in the $35 million Automotive New Markets Initiative announced earlier this year.
Mr Angove will work with former Victorian premier and head of a 2008 inquiry looking into the viability of the Australian car-making industry, Steve Bracks, and former Toyota Australia managing director John Conomos to identify new markets and customers.
