Ford Australia Announces Boosted $450M R&D Budget For 2017

Ford Australia has opened its new Asia Pacific Product Development Centre, with global president and CEO, Mark Fields, using the occasion to announce a 50 percent investment increase in the local operation’s research and development budget.

The new Product Development Centre, housed within Ford’s Broadmeadows campus, formerly the site of its local manufacturing plant, is part of a $50 million spend by the company to upgrade local facilities.

Housed within the new Product Development Centre will be a high-tech 3D virtual reality studio, and in 2017 a new five-axis mill, doubling the facility’s milling area and making the Broadmeadows site the most comprehensively equipped Australian facility capable of designing and engineering vehicles from the ground up.

Mr Fields outlined the crucial role Ford Australia is set to play, not just in the design and engineering of Ford’s future product but also as the company reshapes itself into a future-ready automotive and mobility company.

Federal minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Greg Hunt MP was also at the Product Development Centre opening, taking the opportunity to speak about Australia’s field of talent to meet Ford’s long-term investment in Australia.

“Our strengths are our innovative capability… we have Australian’s who are involved and are brilliant at design, engineering, and all of the related elements, so Australian’s can be amongst the best in the world at innovative thinking and design, and we have to be amongst the best in the world.” Mr Hunt said.