Green Fords safe: Graziano

Ford boss says the government's axing of the Green Car fund will not hurt existing projects
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Ford's four-cylinder Falcon and high-tech LPG powertrain projects are safe despite the axing of the Green Car Innovation Fund by the Federal Government.

Killed off last month as part of a package of measures to help pay for infrastructure reconstruction after Queensland's flood and cyclone disasters, the GCIF was set up to provide tax-payer funded grants to cement local production of more fuel efficient vehicles.

Incoming Ford Australia President Bob Graziano confirmed that funding of his company's existing Falcon based programs was safe. He stated categorically that both the ECOBoost turbocharged four-cylinder Falcon and high-efficiency liquid injection LPG would come to market on time.

Beyond that, however, Graziano would not comment on Ford or the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries' communications with the Gillard Government following the program's cancellation.

Mass media has reported that Ford, along with Holden, Toyota and the FCAI have written to government requesting a 'please explain' regarding the GCIF axing. The ABC reported yesterday that as part of the agreement to establish the GCIF, government had requested significant undertakings from the local manufacturers regarding forward investment.

Graziano refused to comment on the content of Ford's communications with government over the GCIF dismantling.

"I don't want to get into the specifics of the letter but we're disappointed with the decision and look forward to having some dialogue with the government," Graziano straight batted.

"Right now the use of the Green Car fund for us is the use of some of the technologies we've talked about today [Territory launch] and my understanding is that remains in place. So near-term we don't see that that is going to change," he said.

Graziano would not confirm whether any investment decisions had been put on hold following the government's announcement. Nor would he comment on whether the changes put the likely arrival of Ford's electric and hybrid variants of new generation Focus and C-Max at risk.

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