Ford/Toyota Joint Venture UTE

[Wally]

This been posted yet?

http://www.smh.com.au/national/ute-b...1212-kpki.html

Ute beauty: Toyota, Ford race to reinvent a classicTOBY HAGON
December 13, 2009
AUSTRALIA invented the ute and now it's perfecting it for the world.

Australia's three remaining car makers – Ford, Toyota and Holden – are playing roles in developing next-generation utes for the world.

Toyota has revealed it will join Ford in developing a rugged ute to be sold around the world, exporting engineering and helping cement Australia as one of fewer than 20 countries that can design, engineer and produce cars.

The next generation of Australia's – and one of the world's – most popular utes, the Toyota Hilux, will undergo extensive testing and development locally as part of a plan to set Australia up as a four-wheel-drive centre of expertise.

A senior Toyota engineer recently in Australia said Australian engineers were being trained in Japan to develop the next Hilux ute that will arrive in about five years.

"Australia is still the most diverse and harsh environment we know. It is the benchmark for model development," said Toyota chief engineer Makato Arimoto, who is part of the product-planning department.

Ford Australia – which invented the first car-based ute in 1934 in answer to a farmer's desire for a car that could be driven to church on Sunday and take pigs to market on Monday – is leading the development of the next-generation Ranger.

The longest-running name plate in Australia could switch to an imported car as part of the "one Ford" policy that aims to end cars for individual markets.

Last year Holden was on the verge of exporting its Commodore ute to the US, a program that came undone when parent company General Motors slid towards bankruptcy. Some within Holden are still hopeful of reviving an export program for the ute that has created a new sports-ute segment.

[Auslandau]

I don't beleive its a joint venture ...... Mazda and Ford are in partnership with the Ranger. I think the article is saying that Ford has joined Toyota in taking the reins (individually) to R&D utes for the rest of the world for their respective brands.



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[Wally]

I think you are right.

[Mark351]

Technically speaking, Ford and Toyota are developing pick-ups, not car-based utes that Ford Aus did invent..

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by auslandau

I don't beleive its a joint venture ...... Mazda and Ford are in partnership with the Ranger. I think the article is saying that Ford has joined Toyota in taking the reins (individually) to R&D utes for the rest of the world for their respective brands.

That what I thought when I read it, why would ford spend more money when they have the T6 close to completion.

[irlewy86]

Originally Posted by vztrt

That what I thought when I read it, why would ford spend more money when they have the T6 close to completion.

I thought when Ford upgraded You Yangs the idea was to sub out some of it for engineering by third parties. Maybe thats what they mean?

[Wally]

Originally Posted by vztrt

That what I thought when I read it, why would ford spend more money when they have the T6 close to completion.

It's this bit that had me thinking:

Toyota has revealed it will join Ford in developing a rugged ute

[vztrt]

I get ya Wally, but irlewy86 actually makes sense because I know the expanded the proving ground by a fair bit a few years ago.

[BigAL_250]

Ute beauty: Toyota, Ford race to reinvent a classicTOBY HAGON
December 13, 2009
AUSTRALIA invented the ute and now it's perfecting it for the world.

Australia's three remaining car makers – Ford, Toyota and Holden – are playing roles in developing next-generation utes for the world.

Toyota has revealed it will join Ford in developing a rugged ute to be sold around the world, exporting engineering and helping cement Australia as one of fewer than 20 countries that can design, engineer and produce cars.

The next generation of Australia's – and one of the world's – most popular utes, the Toyota Hilux, will undergo extensive testing and development locally as part of a plan to set Australia up as a four-wheel-drive centre of expertise.

A senior Toyota engineer recently in Australia said Australian engineers were being trained in Japan to develop the next Hilux ute that will arrive in about five years.

"Australia is still the most diverse and harsh environment we know. It is the benchmark for model development," said Toyota chief engineer Makato Arimoto, who is part of the product-planning department.

Ford Australia – which invented the first car-based ute in 1934 in answer to a farmer's desire for a car that could be driven to church on Sunday and take pigs to market on Monday – is leading the development of the next-generation Ranger.

The longest-running name plate in Australia could switch to an imported car as part of the "one Ford" policy that aims to end cars for individual markets.

Last year Holden was on the verge of exporting its Commodore ute to the US, a program that came undone when parent company General Motors slid towards bankruptcy. Some within Holden are still hopeful of reviving an export program for the ute that has created a new sports-ute segment.

And they still manage to sneak that little pearler in there, what relevance does it have to any of this?

[Ohio XB]

I can see how one would get that Ford and Toyota were teaming up on a joint project, the way that article reads.

Nothing could be further from the truth.


Ford has been the number one truck in the US for at least the past 33 years, straight. Toyota is having problems with it's first full sized truck, the Tundra. It still does not match up to the F-series.

Ford has surpassed Toyota in initial quality, and Toyota also has recalls and much other negative press going on as they learn what it means to be such a huge company. Ford is not about to go into a project with them, they just leap-frogged them.


If Toyota says they are going to step-up their game in utes in Oz you better believe Ford is not going to take that lying down. This competition will only be a good thing for Australia, and potentially some other markets.


Steve

[GK]

Love your work Steve!

GK

Originally Posted by Ohio XB

I can see how one would get that Ford and Toyota were teaming up on a joint project, the way that article reads.

Nothing could be further from the truth.


Ford has been the number one truck in the US for at least the past 33 years, straight. Toyota is having problems with it's first full sized truck, the Tundra. It still does not match up to the F-series.

Ford has surpassed Toyota in initial quality, and Toyota also has recalls and much other negative press going on as they learn what it means to be such a huge company. Ford is not about to go into a project with them, they just leap-frogged them.


If Toyota says they are going to step-up their game in utes in Oz you better believe Ford is not going to take that lying down. This competition will only be a good thing for Australia, and potentially some other markets.


Steve

[Ohio XB]

Just to be a little more accurate, when this year's numbers are announced it will be 33 years. As of 2008 it has been 32 years running.

If nothing else, Ford will brag about their truck dominance. They are taking it to a new level too because they know the competition wants to challege them now.

...always someone gotta try to take you down.


Steve

[chevypower]

Well I believe Ford invented the pickup truck and the Aussie ute. Today, Ford still makes the best of both.

[outback_ute]

Originally Posted by bigal_250

And they still manage to sneak that little pearler in there, what relevance does it have to any of this?

I noticed that - a sign the article could use another run past the editor as presumably it's a reference to the Falcon, but does not actually state it.

[dannyxm]

Originally Posted by outback_ute

I noticed that - a sign the article could use another run past the editor as presumably it's a reference to the Falcon, but does not actually state it.

Always there with a kick in the teeth arn't they?

Also, why is it always 'the Aussies invented the ute' Never 'Ford Australia invented the ute.'

Sorry to be nitpicking but thats always annoyed me.

[chevypower]

Originally Posted by danny351

Also, why is it always 'the Aussies invented the ute' Never 'Ford Australia invented the ute.'

Wasn't it the woman who wrote to Ford the person who deserves the credit? Anyway, ancient history, so who really cares? Probably not anyone who doesn't already know about it.