Ford Australia to close Broadmeadows and Geelong plants, 1,200 jobs to go

ABC News Australia ^ | 5/22/2013 | abcnews.com.au

[Kommodor]

Ford Australia says it will close its Australian manufacturing plants in October 2016, with the loss of hundreds of jobs.

Ford president Bob Graziano said approximately 1,200 workers would lose their jobs when the Broadmeadows and Geelong plants were shut down.

He made the announcement in Melbourne this morning after announcing that the company had lost $141 million over the last financial year - taking losses over the past five years to more than $600 million. Key points

Ford to close plants in 2016 More than 1,000 jobs to go, more at risk Government promises support for sacked staff

"Our costs are double that of Europe and nearly four times Ford in Asia," Mr Graziano said.

(more at source)

[Kommodor]

Personally, I'm more of a Holden fan, but this does not bode well for our friends down under and their manufacturing base. A sad day.

Hopefully I haven't broken any super secret or not so secret posting rules here.

[Aussiebabe]

No loss, Ford and Holden (GM) have been subsidised by billions of $ to prop up the high costs, including high union payrolls, and high taxes/tariffs. As a result, our autos prices are double to triple the price people pay for the exact same auto in the USA or UK. Bad for the union people, but they are partially responsible, along with bad management and awful Labor government policies.