Shortly after General Motors made the shock decision to kill off the Holden brand, rival Ford has reiterated its commitment to the Australian market.
Ford Australia & New Zealand president and chief executive Kay Hart has revealed the car manufacturer will spend roughly $500 million across the country in 2020, News.com.au reports. She added that Ford is looking to also hire new staff.
“I am sure there is some great talent in that Holden team. We would definitely be looking for that skill set that would fit with us and there may well be opportunities for that team at Ford in the future,” she said.
Australian Federal Industry Minister Karen Andrews was in contact with Hart in the wake of the Holden news and said that Ford will not follow in the footsteps of GM.
“They are very focused on design and engineering so I am not foreseeing any imminent issues with Ford,” Ms Andrews said.
Read More: GM Kills Holden Brand As It Withdraws From Right-Hand Drive Markets
Hart added to this by saying that Ford is “excited” about its future in Australia.
“Ford Australia is committed to our operations here in Australia and we’re excited about what our future lies ahead for us here,” she said. “As a company, they will make that decision based on what is right for the corporation globally, but at the moment we are extremely committed, in terms of the Ford Motor Company, is extremely committed to Australia.”
Ford employs approximately 2,000 people across the country, including engineers and designers as well as technical and automotive specialists.
