FPV cuts Staff, Barrett Gone Too..

[jpd80]

THE future of Ford Performance Vehicles is in serious doubt following mass sackings last week.
..A total of 15 staff, led by general manager Rod Barrett, were terminated in the second high-profile clear-out in just over five years.

There is solid speculation about a total FPV shutdown at the end of the year, based on slow sales and the sluggish showroom performance of the Ford Falcon. FPV delivered only 379 cars to the end of April, while its opposition at Holden Special Vehicles managed more than 1000.

To put that into a broader perspective, Mercedes-Benz Australia sold more than 400 of its hotrod C63 AMG sedans in the same period, despite a price tag better than double anything from the FPV or HSV catalogue.

FPV boss Bryan Mears refuses an interview request from Carsguide on the subject of the sackings, although in the past he has promised a year-over-year sales improvement in 2012 partly boosted by a planned new model in the second half of the year.

"In a declining market, we are holding our own and we're pleased with that," Mears said recently.

"We are tracking through 2012 at the same rate as 2011 and we have plans to strengthen our run home to the end of the year, both in terms of sales and financials. But then, we never talk specifics."

FPV has made some costly investments in recent years in a bid to boost the appeal of its faster Falcons, including an estimated $30 million on the supercharged Boss V8.

Predictably, Mears is calling the latest shake-up a "restructure" and not detailing the exact number of job losses.

But it's a strong pointer to tough times for the fast Ford division, which has never been able to build a successful business plan to expand its line-up in Australia beyond the locally made Falcon and - once only - Territory.

Still, it is possible that FPV is being brought closer to Prodrive Asia-Pacific, the umbrella company which directs FPV operations in partnership with Ford Australia.

It's likely that functions duplicated between FPV and Prodrive have been amalgamated, including the top job which Barrett lost after a long battle with illness, but Mears again refuses to confirm any details.

"This has been a very difficult business decision and one we've taken with great regret," Mears says in a prepared statement. The last time FPV had a clear-out it provoked an angry and insulted reaction from then president of Ford Australia Tom Gorman, who said Prodrive bosses had fouled the water and left him to do the clean-up work.

This time, Mears is attempting to paint a brighter picture despite the general gloom surrounding Ford and the future prospects for the Falcon in all forms.

"Unfortunately, today's business realities are that we have to manage our business appropriately and that includes making the FPV business the right size for the market and taking advantage of better synergies with Ford and Prodrive," Mears says.


Paul Gover, Mark Hinchliffe From: National Features June 07, 2012 7:00PM

Sorry guys, more bad news, looks like Falcon will be without a V8 by the end of the year..
I for one wish Rod Barret all the best and hopefully, an improvement in his health..