Courier utility a sign of Ford-Mazda link

Press, 28 August 1980, Page 23

Courier utility a sign of Ford-Mazda link

By

JOHN FRIDD,

Motoring, editor

The launching of Ford’s new Courier one-tonne utility on September 15 will have a double significance for Ford New Zealand — it will be the company’s first foray into the small-utility market in this country and, more significantly, it is the first tangible sign of the new Ford-Mazda alliance that

Ford hopes will help it steer safely through the troubled seas of the international automobile scene over the next decade. The Courier is a Japa-nese-sourced conventional utility powered by a 1769 OHC motor. It has’ been sold in the United States for some years under the Ford-Toyo Kogyo (Mazda) agreement that will soon see the front-wheel-drive Laser-323 becoming the common small car of both companies. Ford’s Courier has exactly the same dimensions as the long-wheel-base Mazda 81600 utility but its bigger motor, which has an aluminium cylin-der-head, will give it a slight advantage over the Mazda product in terms of power and torque. Mr Joe Auton, head of Ford New Zealand, referred recently to the Courier as a “symbolic bridge” as he talked about his company’s direction in the light of the present crisis hitting • most nonJapanese car-makers. Dispelling fears that the suggested motor-industry restructuring could see Ford’s New Zealand assembly plants close, Mr Auton said there will not be a heavy reduction in assembly jobs, more a gradual move • towards making vehicle components.

Mr Auton hinted that the New Zealand .automobile industry will eventually be more heavily involved with making components than assembling cars and that this would provide benefits for both

tlie country and employees, in terms of giving them better job satisfaction.

“Assembly never leads to an automobile industry,” said Mr Auton. “The manufacture of components is more profitable — 'we’ve found that with our Escort transmission plant, which is now being phased out in favour of our alloy wheel-making operations. “Now, with the front-wheel-drive small car looming, we’re looking at which aluminium components we can make here.”

Ford feels that the only part New Zealand will be able to profitably play on the world car scene in the not-too-distant future will be in the manufacture of aluminium, components sp naturally it is already looking hard at this area, in association, with Japanese interests.

Mr Auton said that some form of restructuring is appropriate to the New Zealand car-assembly industry, with its high- assembly costs and low volumes, although he would not be drawn on what changes there might be.

Referring to the forthcoming battle over Laser--323 sales looming between the Ford and Mazda networks in New Zealand, Mr Auton said he felt that Ford, would stay on top of the market because of its strong “owner group” — the people who have always bought Fords and “will always have a look at what Ford has got to offer.”