I am always suspicious of large multi national Companies when they make claims as seen here:
Ford workers 'devastated' by announcement Victorian plants will close in 2016 | News.com.au
Note: "Ford CEO and president Bob Graziano "manufacturing is not viable for Ford in the long term" in a press conference this morning. Australia Ford operations have lost $600 million in Australia over five years."
Really, lost $600 million hey? .... And this is despite the taxpayers of Oz giving you over 1 billion since the year 2000.
If we sent in some forensic accounting types to look at the Ford Australia's Balance sheet, I bet we would find all manner of costs like two favourites used by US companies:
The first being: Loans ... In the US corporate loans can be sourced at damn near nil interest from the Feds. These funds are then "sent" to overseas subsidiaries but at an interest cost much greater than the local market.
Second: Licencing fees .... As a totally different legal entity Ford Australia could well be paying the Ford Holding company in the US a "licencing Fee" just to use the Ford name.
I suspect the pending closure is just a strategic move by Ford to a cheaper manufacturing centre.
The devil is always in the detail.