- Ford Australia celebrates 100 years of operation in Australia and 100-year partnership with Geelong Football Club
- First-ever Ranger Super Duty revealed for Australia and international markets
- Ford Philanthropy commits AUD$1.5-million in three-year partnership with Red Cross Australia
MELBOURNE, Victoria, April 4, 2025 – Ford Motor Company proudly celebrated its 100th anniversary in Australia today, marking continued commitment to innovation, investment, employees, and community support that has seen the company becoming – and remaining – the largest automotive employer in the country.
Ford also looked to the future with the global reveal of the all-new Ranger Super Duty, and announced an AUD$1.5-million, three-year partnership between Ford Philanthropy and the Australian Red Cross. The company also celebrated the extension of its 100-year partnership with the Geelong Football Club, the world’s longest-running partnership in professional sport.
“For 100 years, Ford and Australia have grown together. Australia was one of the first markets we established outside North America. It was a key moment in making Ford truly global. It has been a center of innovation, from the first truck or Ute, to the Falcon and Ranger, and always a pipeline of talent,” said Bill Ford, Executive Chair. “Ford Australia may be 100 years old, but the road ahead is what excites me the most. Built on ingenuity, determination, and world-class innovation, the team in Australia is not just shaping the future, they are redefining what is possible.”
Ranger Super Duty Revealed
Designed and developed in Australia, Ranger Super Duty made its global debut at Ford’s centenary celebrations, marking the first time Ford’s “Super Duty” name has been applied to any vehicle outside of North America.
Born from hundreds of hours of conversations and time spent with customers, Ranger Super Duty delivers a heavy-duty, heavy-hauling work vehicle to meet the needs of the most demanding customers in the most demanding environments. Ranger Super Duty’s work strengths also make it an ideal recreational vehicle capable of going a long way beyond the bitumen.
“We listened to what the hardest working fleet operators told us they needed to be more productive, and we’ve developed a Ranger with heavy-duty hardware and enhanced capability to stay on the job longer and help get it done sooner,” said Jim Baumbick, vice president, advanced product development, cycle planning and programs, Ford Motor Company. “We are taking global midsize truck capability to a whole new level, straight from the factory.”
Listening to customers and creating vehicles that meet their needs traces all the way back to the 1930s, when an Aussie farmer sent a letter asking Ford to build a vehicle that could go to church on Sunday and take the pigs to market on Monday. The coupe-ute, was invented, demonstrating Aussie ingenuity and practicality, said Baumbick. “There really is a direct link between the market desire for a vehicle like the Ranger Super Duty and the 1934 Lew Bandt ute.
“Customers told us they wanted something comfortable and safe, that could carry and tow more and go further off-road. And just look at it. It looks like it means business,” said Baumbick.
With a thicker, stronger chassis, front and rear locking differentials, heavy-duty axles, and stronger suspension, this truck is heavy-duty commercial grade but consumer friendly. Redefining the heavy-duty, medium pickup segment, Ranger Super Duty will deliver, versatility, connectivity, and creature comforts unseen before with this level of capability.
While Ranger Super Duty was born in Australia, it will be going around the world. Built at Ford’s AutoAlliance Thailand (AAT) facility, Ranger Super Duty will go on sale in 2026 across Australia and New Zealand and Thailand. It will also be offered in other markets through Ford Global Fleet Sales, who can also provide modification services. The product line-up and specs for these markets will be confirmed closer to introduction.
Backed by the Ford Pro Convertor ecosystem
Recognising the critical role of customisation for heavy-duty trucks, Ford also announced that the Ford Pro Convertor program will launch in Australia in the second half of 2025.
Connecting customers with trusted, Ford-certified conversion specialists across the country, Ford ProTM Convertor delivers high-quality vehicle conversions to meet a wide range of customer requirements, all backed by the comfort and peace of mind of a full five-year warranty from the Ford ProTM Convertor, complemented by Ford’s five-year unlimited kilometre warranty on the base vehicle.
All Ford Pro™ Convertors undergo a comprehensive assessment by Ford to ensure the quality of their production and installation methods align with our quality standards.
“Connecting customers through our dealer network with a wide range of Ford Pro Convertors will give them peace of mind that their new Ford will be ready to meet their unique needs from day one – from offering specialised trays and secure storage to full conversions that’ll help fire crews, emergency services and other essential providers,” said Andrew Birkic, president and CEO, Ford Australia and New Zealand.
“Every business is different, but they all require their vehicles to be tailored to their unique needs, with the quality, professionalism, and peace of mind that allows them to get on with the job – knowing they’ve been able to customise their truck to their needs. .”
“Ranger Super Duty is a heavy-duty vehicle designed to work hard in remote locations. That’s also why, in partnership with our dealers, over the next year we’re looking to expand our service points and build a presence in new locations, supporting key industries and ensuring our customers have the support they need, wherever they are. We’re building an entire eco-system of support to ensure those who do the tough jobs will be able to do them a little easier,” he said.
Australian Red Cross partnership
Australian Red Cross and Ford Philanthropy have launched a new three-year, AU$1.5million partnership, to support Australian communities and strengthen local, community-led efforts to build resilience and recover from disasters.
Australian Red Cross CEO Andrew Colvin, said the partnership between Australian Red Cross and Ford Philanthropy is a powerful demonstration of how we can work together to support communities before, during, and after disasters.
“With Ford’s generous commitment, we can expand our reach, ensuring more people have the tools and resources to prepare for and recover from crises. By combining our expertise with Ford’s dedication to community support, we can ensure no-one is left behind in times of need,” Mr Colvin said.
The relationship between Ford and Red Cross goes back to the early days of the Ford Motor Company, when Henry Ford supplied converted Model Ts to serve as battlefield ambulances during World War One. And for the last 75 years, Ford Motor Company has been a proud partner of the Red Cross, assisting with disaster relief, health and safety training and education, international, and lifesaving blood services.
Ford Philanthropy President, Mary Culler, said Ford has a global commitment to being there in times of crisis.
“The work Australian Red Cross does in helping to support communities to respond and recover from disasters and climate related emergencies aligns with our global vision,” Ms Culler said.
Here in Australia, Ford Philanthropy will support Australian Red Cross in its work around community resilience and disaster preparedness and recovery.
“We are establishing a transformative and scalable collaboration, supporting Australian Red Cross to respond effectively during crises, while working towards strengthening community resilience,” Ms Culler said.
Ford’s three-year $1.5 million funding from Ford Philanthropy through international grantmaking partner GlobalGiving, includes:
- Philanthropic investment in year-round disaster response, recovery and preparedness.
- Community Resilience Programs: Delivering disaster preparedness information and tools to communities in East Gippsland Shire area who are at high risk of natural disasters and a bespoke 12-month program in the City of Greater Geelong.
- A loan fleet of seven Ford vehicles spread across each state and the Northern Territory, to enable Australian Red Cross to engage in humanitarian work to support communities across the country.
- Extensive participation opportunities for dealers and staff, from community fundraising, to volunteering, Lifeblood Drives, and more.
Ford and Geelong Football Club Celebrate 100 Years
Today, Ford and the Geelong Football Club are celebrating 100 years of partnership– a relationship that began in Ford’s first year of operation in Australia and is the world’s longest-running partnership in professional sport.
The partnership includes support for both the men’s and women’s teams, as well as off-field collaboration through a range of community programs.
“More than just a logo on a jersey, our relationship with the Geelong Football Club is a genuine friendship,” said Birkic.
“In the early days, many of our employees worked on the line during the week and took to the field for the Cats on the weekend. We’ve been with Geelong through good times and bad, because that’s what friends do. And while we’re immensely proud of our century-long relationship, we’re incredibly excited for what’s next.”
Steve Hocking, CEO of Geelong Football Club added: “Together over the course of a century, the Geelong Football Club and Ford Motor Company have shared people and place, ideas and aspirations, 10 premierships and countless more achievements,” Hocking said.
“We are united by a fundamental passion for high performance and a relentless pursuit of progress. While we have 100 years of history at our back, it’s the next evolutions of our organisations and our partnership that excite us more than anything else.
Bringing Ford’s archives to life through the Ford Heritage Vault
This week Ford also published a deep dive into its history in Australia through the Ford Heritage Vault, an online repository for all things related to Ford history and heritage around the world. With the new additions, it is now home to more than 2,500 brochures and images of Ford models sold in Australia from 1925.
The Vault currently contains more than 16,000 digital items, including product brochures, assorted regional issues of the Ford Times magazine, product and concept photography, images of global Ford facilities, and press releases detailing the innovations in historic concept vehicles.
The best of Ford’s automotive history in Australia is now just a click away with visitors able to view unique vehicles, like the 1934 Coupe-Utility, 1960 XK Falcon, and the brightly colored XR6 and XR8 of the 2000s..
Ford’s US-based archives team, led by Ford Heritage brand manager, Ted Ryan, and senior collections archivist, Ciera Casteel, have been working with local vendors to digitise thousands of images, brochures, documents, and audiovisual materials to preserve and make this history available to the public.
“It has been a mammoth undertaking, and we’re continuing to add to the online archive with Australian-relevant documents, brochures and images,” Ryan said. “We want to ensure the collection is made accessible online for the general public, so everyone can re-live their favourite moments.”
Ford Australia is Australia’s largest automotive employer, with a dedicated team of more than 1500, and dealers operating from more than 240 sites nationwide. The company supports several philanthropic causes and is a proud sponsor of numerous sporting organisations, from Supercars teams to Basketball Australia, Queensland Rugby League, and Golf NSW, in addition to its record-setting 100 years as sponsor of the Geelong Football Club.
Here’s to the next 100 years.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, that is committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for and deepen the loyalty of those customers. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, as well as connected services. Additionally, Ford is establishing leadership positions in mobility solutions, including self-driving technology, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 176,000 people worldwide. More information about the company, its products and Ford Credit is available at corporate.ford.com
