“This is a significant milestone for us at Ford Australia,” revealed Ford boss Bob Graziano. “Territory was the brainchild of Ford in Australia and we are incredibly proud of what this car has achieved.
Mr Graziano was speaking as total Ford Territory production at the company’s plant in Broadmeadows, Victoria exceeded 150,000.
Clearly the Ford Territory continues to be hugely popular with Australian SUV buyers, but its significance both in Ford’s global product portfolio and local automotive industry should not be overlooked.
Despite an armada of quality SUVs produced worldwide by Ford, which could easily have been adapted for local sale, then Ford Australia chief Geoff Polities, displaying his characteristic dogged determination and passion for the brand, persuaded his bosses in Detroit to outlay a budget of $500 million – a lot of money in 1999 – for the design, development and production of a unique Australian product.
Along the way to production of vehicle number 150,000, Ford Territory has continued to set impressive benchmarks.
Don’t forget the Ford Territory was the first locally produced vehicle to offer curtain airbags and electronic stability control and in 2005 debuted the first reversing camera in an Australian product.
Already boasting the maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating, last year Ford Territory boosted its environmental credentials with the addition of the superb 2.7-litre V6 turbo-diesel engine.
The Ford Territory is a Car Showroom favourite SUV and we’d back its driving dynamics against SUVs from anywhere in the world.
