By NOEL MURPHY
FORD’S loss should be Holden’s and Toyota’s gain, according to Roy Morgan Research findings.
Roy Morgan spokesman Norman Morris said an analysis of industry data suggested remaining domestic manufacturers were set to benefit from Ford pulling out of Australian manufacturing in 2016.
Ford announced the 2016 pull-out last month, with 510 Geelong workers to lose their jobs.
“Holden and Toyota are positioned to be the main beneficiaries should potential buyers of Falcon and Territory go with their second or third choices,” Mr Morris said
The analysis found that 164,000 people planned to buy a new Ford in the next four years.
More than half would still turn to another Australian-made vehicle if new Fords were unavailable, Roy Morgan said.
Almost one in three of them would opt for a Holden as their second choice and 13 per cent would buy a Toyota.
The figures, which did not count fleet, government or rental buyers, reflected a fall of almost 15 per cent in demand for new Fords, down from 190,000 five years ago.
The findings contrasted Holden overtures this week to have factory workers at its plan in Elizabeth, South Australia, to accept a pay cut and a review of workplace conditions.
The car-maker said it was digging in for “unprecedented economic challenges” and seeking “significant annual cost savings”.
Holden, which posted a loss of $152 million in 2012, has revealed it is losing money on domestically-made cars but making profits on imported models.
