Ford Australia today announced that a right-hand drive, local remanufacturing program with RMA Automotive Holdings, would bring the Ford F-150 to Australia.
Ford Australia has engaged RMA Automotive to give Australian consumers access to America’s best-selling vehicle with arrival of the F-150 scheduled for mid-2023.
Part of Ford F-Series, the F-150 has earned its stripes as a member of America’s top-selling truck line thanks to its exceptional performance, towing, cargo capacity, safety and technology.
Ultimately, demand from vocal Ford customers in Australia proved overwhelming.
“We’ve listened hard to fans and dealers and found a way to bring F-150 to Australia. As the pinnacle of ‘Built Ford Tough’, it will give our customers even more choice when they’re in the market for a pick-up. We just can’t wait to unleash it,” said Andrew Birkic, Ford Australia and New Zealand President and CEO.
“F-150 has been part of F-Series, America’s best-selling vehicle line for the past 40 years, with more than 40 million F-Series Trucks produced to date. With such a local fan base, and with full-size truck sales in Australia tripling in recent years, we just knew we had to find a way to bring it back to Australia.”
Leading 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 and safety regulations.
F-150 will be available alongside the full Ford vehicle range throughout Ford’s nationwide dealer network.
With Ranger’s position as Australia’s best-selling 4×4, Ford Australia said its strength in commercial vehicles is clear, but customers have also been vocal about their desire to see F-150 in local dealerships.
It was this feedback, and the growth of the full-size truck segment in Australia, that has led to the return of F-150 to the Australian market.
“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,” said Birkic.
“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 right hand drive models,” he said.
“With the introduction of F-150, alongside our Ranger line-up, Ford’s comprehensive pick-up truck range will offer a vehicle for every situation.”
Ford Australia’s product development team – the same team that brought the Next-Generation Ranger and Everest to the world – has played a key role in bringing the F-150 to Australia.
Working in conjunction with their US counterparts, Ford Australia’s product development engineers will collaborate with RMA Automotive to ensure a seamless ‘Built Ford Tough’ conversion, with the quality and reliability that has come to be expected of Ford’s commercial vehicles.
RMA Automotive has more than 30 years of engineering expertise, and is considered one of the world’s leading suppliers of modified vehicles, with over 100,000 modified Ford vehicles delivered globally to date.
As a Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier (QVM), Ford’s relationship with RMA dates back to 1997, with projects in markets from Europe and North America, to Asia Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East.
Remanufacturing of the vehicles from left-hand drive to right-hand drive will take place in an RMA Automotive-leased facility at the 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 high standards with the convenience of a nationwide dealer network and the peace of mind of a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
Australian-delivered F-150 models will be offered exclusively with the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine and 10-speed transmission, delivering 298Kw1 of power and 678Nm1 of torque.
More US customers choose the EcoBoost V6 than any other F-150 engine, and that powertrain will make F-150 one of the most powerful, and most capable, full-size pick-ups available in Australia.
“When we began looking at F-150 for an Australian return, there was one engine that stood out for us – the 3.5L EcoBoost, which gives F-150 immense power and torque, more than many of its V8 competitors,” said Natalie Manariti, Ford Australia’s Global Trucks Enterprise Product Line Manager.
“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 3.5L EcoBoost,” she said.
Ford confirmed the F-150 will be offered in a Crew Cab body style locally.
All F-150 models come standard with Ford SYNC, Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking, BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane-Keeping System, Rear View Camera, Auto High Beams, Reverse Brake Assist, Reverse Sensing System and Post-Collision Braking.
“The suite of productivity and safety technology included in F-150 will bring a whole new level of sophistication and ability to the full-size pick-up segment,” said Manariti.
“It’s smart, as well as tough and powerful. The F-150 is purpose-built to be the toughest, most productive F-150 ever, and raises the standard for all trucks.”
With 4.5 tonne towing, F-150 aims to be the ultimate truck for both work and play – whether that means towing a boat, quadbikes, a small excavator, or anything in between.
“The F-150 is part of a new wave of Ford vehicles for our Australian customers,” said Birkic.
“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.”