By NOEL MURPHY
FORD has posted record profits, sales and revenue across North and South America, China, the Pacific and Africa as it prepares to close its Geelong manufacturing operations in 2016.
The mother company posted a record $11.8 billion in revenue and a record $415 million profit for its Asia Pacific Africa operations off record sales of 1.34 million vehicles
Ford will pay record profit-sharing cheques averaging $8800 to workers in North America and hire additional staff.
The strong Asian Pacific results contrasted what the company described as “unfavorable results in Australia as Ford restructures the business and reflects the effects of a weakening Australian dollar”.
Ford’s overall operations posted a record pre-tax profit of $8.6 billion.
Ford president and chief executive officer Alan Mulally said the company had an “outstanding year in 2013” with “solid results and profitable growth for all”.
“We are well-positioned for another solid year in 2014,” he said.
Earlier this month Ford unveiled a new all-aluminium F-150, the world’s top-selling truck, at the Detroit Auto Show, highlighting a ground-breaking deal to make aluminium cars in the US with Alcoa, which is also at risk of closing in Geelong.
