Ford Australia’s exercise in right-hand-drive remanufacturing the full-sized F-150 for local consumption could open the door for other US-market models to come Down Under.
Though far from a confirmation, Ford Australia boss Andrew Birkic told media at the F-150 announcement that there is potential down the line for more US models.
“We just need to focus on F-150 and getting the product here … does it give us some opportunity down the track? Yes,” he said.
“But again, our focus needs to be on F-150 … there’s a lot of work that goes into whether we bring a vehicle to Australia, can we get the supply, is it commercially viable, is there a market for it – so we would need to do all that due diligence, and that would be part of our decision-making process.
“Certainly, we will test this out, this is a very significant step for us and really, globally, this is a first what is happening right now, so we need to just ensure that the quality of it is absolutely spot on.”
So, what other models could be on the table?
The most obvious choice is the Bronco off-road SUV, which actually shares the same platform as the Ranger ute.
Ford has said in the past that the Bronco is a left-hand-drive-exclusive model, but with RMA Automotive Holdings partnering with Ford for the F-150 right-hand-drive conversion, the Bronco very well be offered in the near future.
Likewise, models like the Explorer and Maverick could get a similar remanufacturing treatment, if, of course, the business case stacks up.
The Maverick is based on the same underpinnings as the Escape mid-size SUV, and is sized smaller than the Ranger, making it a more affordable options for those that want the practicality of a ute without bulk.
The Explorer meanwhile, is a large and upmarket SUV that could take on the likes of the Mazda CX-9, Toyota Kluger, Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento in the popular segment.
Other models available in the US include the Bronco Sport, Expedition and Edge – the latter of which was briefly sold in Australia as the Endura from 2018-2020.
However, a hurdle with some of these models will be availability, with months’ worth of supply of the Bronco and Maverick already exhausted.
Cost will also be an issue, as each model might be imported and then right-hand-drive remanufactured like the F-150, adding to the asking price and potentially putting them too far upmarket of its competitors.
Keyword: Bronco, Maverick and Explorer on the cards for Australia if Ford's F-150 program proves a success