ford

Supply chain companies which formerly supported car manufacturing in Australia remain in business, despite the closure of the Ford, Toyota, and Holden manufacturing plants, according to a government report released today by Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews. About 75 per cent of former supply chain companies remain in business following the closure of … Continue reading Australia’s transition away from car manufacturing going strong, says government →

The social value of local manufacturing will be explored through a 3D version of a 2009 Ford Falcon XR6. Developed by Deakin University’s CADET VR Lab, part of the School of Engineering, the project will allow participants to engage with the industrial design heritage in Geelong. The VR experience will be held as part of … Continue reading VR experience to showcase Geelong’s industrial heritage →

The World Economic Forum’s Lighthouse Network has expanded with the addition of 10 new factories. Selected for their utilisation of Industry 4.0 technologies, the plants have all used innovative solutions to increase profits and streamline processes. This announcement takes the number of lighthouse factories to 26, spread across continents and sectors. The World Economic Forum … Continue reading Leading factories commit to sharing innovation →

Former automotive industry workers have found jobs working to remove dangerous level crossings after taking part in an Victorian Government’s South East Automotive Transition program to reskill and retrain them for new careers. Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney visited the Rosanna Level Crossing site to meet six former apprentices and two former trainees … Continue reading Vic government program helps former automotive workers transition to new roles →

Ford announced last Saturday that it will invest US$1 billion (A$1.303 billion) into the Argo artificial intelligence (AI) system for its upcoming self-driving car, according to Forbes.  The aim of the investment is to create a virtual driver system for the autonomous vehicle it plans to deliver in 2021. Ford global president and chief executive … Continue reading Ford to drive full speed into automotive artificial intelligence →

Toyota will shift to a purely sales distribution model from 3 October when 2600 jobs will go from its Altona plant in Melbourne. According to the AFR, the car-maker announced the official closure timetable yesterday. Toyota Australia president Tony Buttner said that the Aurion vehicle will stop not be produced from August at Altona, while … Continue reading Toyota to shift to car distribution when 2600 jobs go →

With Ford closing its manufacturing operations in Victoria last month, and Toyota and Holden following suit next year, many observers are asking what led to this unfortunate outcome. Alan Johnson reports. LEARNING from your mistakes is one of the fundamental aspects of life, coupled with the importance of not making the same mistake twice. So … Continue reading What lessons has industry learnt? →

The sale of the Ford manufacturing sites will come no time soon, the company’s Australian boss has said.

Today heralds a very new era for manufacturing in Australia – and it is not all bad, according to the Australian Advanced Manufacturing Council (AAMC).

When Ford closes the doors on its vehicle manufacturing operations today about 600 workers will walk out of the factory gate for the last time at the Broadmeadows assembly plant in Melbourne’s northern suburbs and at the company’s engine and stamping plants in Geelong. Preliminary results from a survey of more than 400 auto workers show that most of them still want to work but are unlikely to find secure, long-term jobs.

The Ford Mustang will return to Australia in 2016.

The effective rate of government assistance to the motor vehicles industry is around 9 per cent, while the rate for manufacturing in general is around 4 per cent.

Ford Australia’s decision to cease automotive manufacturing in Australia on October 31, 2016 was prompted by new emission standards which will come into effect the following day.

CMI Fuel Systems, a key supplier to Ford and Holden, has moved into voluntary administration.

GM Holden believes enough workers will accept voluntary redundancy for it to not have to resort to forced redundancies.

The state opposition has said that Victoria’s 200,000 public servants could support Australian car manufacturers by only being allowed to purchase Holdens, Fords and Toyotas.

Administrator Macks Advisory says that Autodom won’t be ready for sale for at least six months.

212 Ford workers have shown up at work for the last time at the company’s Broadmeadows and Geelong plants today.

The 400 workers at Autodom face an uncertain future, says the AMWU, with nobody coming forward to buy the car parts maker.

Around 400 Autodom employees have returned to work after the company entered voluntary administration last week and announced an indefinite halt to operations in three factories in Victoria and South Australia.