29/6/2010
Ford Australia this week kicked-off celebrations for two significant milestones in the company's history – with June 28 marking the 50th birthday of its iconic Ford Falcon, and 2010 representing the 85th anniversary of Ford Motor Company of Australia.

Although Ford vehicles have been sold in Australia since 1904, the Ford Motor Company of Australia was established on March 31, 1925, amid the growth of strong demand for Ford vehicles.

Today, Ford Australia directly employs around 3,500 people between its Broadmeadows assembly plant, Geelong automotive manufacturing centre, and five regional offices.

"2010 is a very special year for Ford in Australia," said Ford Australia Marketing, Sales and Service Vice President Beth Donovan.

 

Falcon, the longest running nameplate in Australian motoring history, first rolled off Ford Australia's production line on June 28, 1960. Since the Falcon XK made its 1960 debut, Ford Australia has produced 27 different models, and almost 3.5 million Falcons have hit the road.

On Monday, the first Falcon model took a victory lap on June 28, rolling down the production line once again at the Broadmeadows plant, just outside of Melbourne, Victoria, as Ford Australia President Marin Burela, company VIPs and Australian government officials gathered to mark the special occasion.

The vintage XK was followed by six later models, each one representing major shifts in Falcon design and technology: the 1970 XY Falcon, 1972 XA Falcon, 1979 XD Falcon, 1988 EA Falcon, 1998 AU Falcon and finally, the 50th Anniversary Limited Edition LG Falcon.

Ford Australia is releasing a series of limited edition commemorative models to celebrate the Falcon's birthday. These will include the Falcon G Series and XR models.

"Falcon has a history of being first to market with a wide variety of technology and safety advancements. We will continue that tradition in the next 12-18 months with the introduction of an all-new liquid phase injection LPG system and the world's first rear-wheel-drive EcoBoost four-cylinder engine," Donovan explained.

The Falcon EF series was the first Australian-manufactured car to offer driver-side airbags as a standard safety feature. The popular sedan was also the first Australian car to receive a 5-star ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Program) safety rating.

The next generation Falcon will be the first rear-wheel-drive vehicle in the Ford world to feature the cutting-edge EcoBoost powertrain technology. EcoBoost will make the Falcon one of the most environmentally-conscious family cars in Australia, delivering six-cylinder performance with four-cylinder fuel economy and a 15 percent reduction in CO2 emissions.

The greening of the Falcon is part of Ford Australia's overall plan to invest in environmentally friendly technology for a more sustainable and successful future. The company recently announced an AUD 230-million (USD 197-million) investment in sustainability initiatives for both Falcon and Territory models.

"Ford’s popular SUV, the Territory, will also receive a green makeover with the introduction of a clean diesel option, giving buyers the choice of an engine which also produces fewer greenhouse gases and delivers greater fuel economy,” Burela explained.

The same night of the Falcon celebrations, Burela joined employees and VIPs for a 'roaring twenties'-themed gala event at the Ford Discovery Centre to celebrate the company's 85th birthday.

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