FORD PRODUCTION IN AUSTRALIA ENDS AFTER 91 YEARS

Ford ended 91 years of car manufacturing in Australia on Friday, with the remaining two Australian carmakers — Toyota and General Motors — due to close their doors next year. Ford Australia said it built the world’s last six- cylinder, rear- wheel drive Falcon XR6 at its Broadmeadows plant in Melbourne and 600 employees lost their jobs. About 3.5 million of the popular Falcons have been built since 1960. Mel Gibson drove a black 1973 XB GT Ford Falcon Coupe in Mad Max: The Road Warrior. “Today is an emotional day for the entire team of Ford Australia,” Ford Australia CEO, Graeme Whickman said. Ford will continue to sell and service imported cars in Australia, and Australia-based engineers will help develop designs of vehicles that will be manufactured overseas, the company said.