Analyst John Wormald predicts Ford next on quitting Australia

Ford was having its subsidiaries in the verge of a downfall because the industry had lacked a vision for the future and furthermore, it is susceptible to a most vulnerable states because of its isolation from its parent company.

Currently, the carmaker  has a 3000 strong production workforce in Australia.

With reference to a Japanese carmaker's decision in shutting down its Adelaide factory 2 years ago, John Wormald the principal of international consultant Autopolis stated the choices which have to be made, and that Ford will be the next Mitsubishi.

Mr Wormald, an Australian who advises the Victorian Governement, said the replacement for the Falcon, an automobile nameplate applied to several vehicles worldwide, could be imported cheaply and therefore not necessary for having a plant in Melbourne.

He further stressed that Ford is not short of assembly capacities in other places and therefore does not see the need to integrate Australia.

Ford is the smallest of three Australian Carmakers, and unlike GM Holden or Toyota, Ford lacks export markets for its Falcon and in last year, it made about 60,000 cars out of an industry total of 223,000.

However, Ford company spokeswoman said that the company has no plans to abandon its manufacturing operations in Australia.