Investment in future of Ford in Geelong
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20 November 2008
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Ford will extend the life of its Geelong engine plant beyond 2010 with a new $21 million investment in the facility, an hour south-west of Melbourne, where it currently employs 400 people.
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The company also announced it would undertake engineering development of the I6 engine to meet stringent Euro IV emissions standards and enable the engine to be sold after 2010.
The announcement was welcomed by the Victorian Premier John Brumby as a great vote of confidence in the future of Victorian manufacturing, in the viability of the local automotive industry and in the Geelong workforce.
“The Victorian Government worked closely with Ford to secure this outcome and will continue to work with the company to facilitate its development of clean and efficient technologies – which is a major part of our $245 million Building Our Industries for the Future industry strategy.”
“This is a big leap forward for the Victorian automotive industry and good news for those Australian component suppliers who will be called upon to continue providing parts for the I6 engine,” Mr Brumby said.
“It’s also a great example of how the Commonwealth and State governments can work together with the automotive industry to secure the jobs of Victorian workers and ensure our ongoing economic prosperity.”
Ford has invested more than $200 million in new facilities and technology in the region since 2006.
Mr Brumby said the automotive manufacturing sector was a leading source of manufacturing R&D and innovation and made a huge contribution to the Victorian and Australian economy.
“Victoria is the engine room of Australia’s automotive industry, our auto sector is worth $15 billion and employs about 35,000 people – and the Victorian Government is fully committed to its long-term future as outlined in Building Our Industries for the Future,” he said.
“We will implement a $6.7 million Victorian Automotive Manufacturing Action Plan, are contributing $300,000 through the Greening the Automotive Industry initiative, while the Agenda for New Manufacturing program will be boosted with an additional $21.6 million to promote new and innovative production and export development.
“This all builds on the Government’s existing support that includes working closely with Ford on a number of initiatives such as the Ford Territory introduction, developing the Falcon platform, the T6 global commercial vehicle project and future local production of the Ford Focus.”
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