Top-selling truck on its way
Ford Australia will reintroduce the F-150 in Australia by mid2023, but unlike the Mustang sportscar, which is imported in right-hand-drive guise, the Blue Oval’s Us-sourced large truck will be remanufactured locally as part of a program with RMA Automotive Holdings.
In what is said to be the only Ford program of its kind globally, Ford Australia has engaged engineering specialist RMA Automotive to remanufacture Australian-delivered F-150s to right-hand drive, meeting all applicable Australian Design Rules, ADRS, and safety regulations.
The F-150 is part of the States’ best-selling vehicle line for the past 40 years. The latest iteration was launched as recently as 2020.
In Australia, it will be available throughout the Blue Oval’s nationwide dealer network and will be offered with a five-year-unlimited-kilometre warranty.
Ford Australia’s global trucks enterprise product line manager Natalie Manariti said the F-150, a rival to the Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado models, would make a belated return to Australia, where it would appeal to customers who wanted Ford’s ‘biggest, boldest and most capable pickup’.
“We’ve listened hard to fans and dealers and found a way to bring F-150 to Australia,” she said.
Ford Australia and NZ president and chief executive Andrew Birkic said with full-sized truck sales in Australia tripling in recent years, ‘we just knew we had to find a way to bring it back to Australia’.
“Whenever I speak to our dealers, they tell me that customers consistently ask about F-150, ask when it is coming, so I am very proud to now be able to say it’s heading our way,” he said.
“There are just so many passionate F-150 fans out there and we’re all thrilled to be able to bring this iconic truck to our roads with locally
remanufactured RHD models.” Ford Australia’s product development team, which helped to hone the next-gen Ranger and Everest, played a key role in bringing the F-150 to Australia.
Working in conjunction with their counterparts in North America, they will collaborate with RMA Automotive. As a Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier, RMA has more than 30 years of engineering expertise and has delivered more than 100,000 modified Ford vehicles globally to date.
Remanufacturing of the vehicles from left to right-hand drive will take
place in an RMA Automotive-leased facility at Merrifield Business Park in Mickleham, north of Melbourne.
Located in the same precinct as Ford’s new parts supply and logistics hub, and close to Ford’s engineering head office in Campbellfield, engineers from Ford and RMA will collaborate to ensure the vehicles are remanufactured to Ford’s quality standards.
Ms Manariti said that while several of the components used in F-150 remanufacture process would be imported, some would ultimately be sourced from locally based suppliers.
Australian-delivered F-150s will be powered exclusively by a 298kw678nm 3.5-litre Ecoboost twin-turbo V6 petrol engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It will be offered in a Crew Cab body style and ‘fully-equipped XLT and premium Lariat’ grades.
“When we began looking at F-150 for an Australian return, there was one engine that stood out. More US customers choose the Ecoboost V6 than any other F-150 engine – it gives the truck immense power and torque, more than many of its V8 competitors,” Ms Manariti said.
“F-150 is an audacious vehicle for customers that don’t want to be restricted or limited, so we are bringing the best of the best with the 3.5-litre Ecoboost.”
F-150 also comes well equipped with tech and safety features, with smart innovations that offer customers ultimate convenience.
Mr Birkic described the brand’s F-150 program as a tremendous investment in Ford Australia and said the new model – the first F-150 offered directly by Ford since 2006 – was part of a new wave of Ford vehicles for Australian customers.
“We’re listening to customers and breaking down barriers to give them what they want – the best of our global line-up. There’s more where F-150 came from,” he said.