After 94 years of operation in Australia, after Toyota and Ford, Horton closed its Elizabeth plant in Adelaide, leaving the doors of hundreds of employees, marking the end of Australia`s auto industry.
Ford, Toyota, Horton, along with Australia`s history, they not only contributed to Australia`s economic development, but also in the history of Australia`s manufacturing industry.
Richard Phillips, executive director of production at Horton, said, "this will put an end to the factory`s production history of more than 60 years. We will still produce more than 30,000 world-class cars in the months leading up to the shutdown, and we all want to see Horton achieve great success in Australia for a long time to come. "
The plant was put into production in 1963 and production has been uninterrupted.
(photo source: TV 9, Australia)
Nearly 700 workers have been forced to leave the factory since 2015, but 80 percent have successfully moved to new jobs or are in the process of training. All employees have access to transfer support services, up to A $3000 in training fees and A $500 in financial advisory fees.
Why, after all, are car manufacturers planting themselves on this piece of land in Australia?
The influx of imported cars into Australia gives Australian car buyers more options than ever before. With the exception of China, Australian consumers have more choices than any other country in the world. There are 64 car brands in Australia, 38 in the United States and 42 in the UK.
Australian consumers are indeed spoiled. Australia`s car market is becoming more and more fragmented, and when local carmakers cannot rely solely on domestic sales to sustain it, they have few "out-of-the-way" options.
The labour costs of developing countries are much cheaper than those of Australia, and that alone is enough to kill them.
Thailand`s minimum wage is equivalent to less than A $2 an hour, and Thai car assembly line workers earn more, but only A $6 an hour, with an annual income of about A $12500.
The average wage in Australia`s auto industry is A $69000. Even with the exchange rate, the cost disadvantage of Australian automakers is even more pronounced.
Compared to the rest of the world, Australia`s car prices are first-rate cheap.
China-Australia car Price Competition
First of all, let`s start with a car of about one hundred thousand yuan.
(the following are calculated using the current exchange rate of 5.2)
[golf]
Golf is one of the first choices for most beginners. It is economical and practical. It is suitable for both individuals and families.
The basic Volkswagen GOLF costs $25490 in Australia, or about $132548.
And the domestic price of this car is $1461 100. Australia is $10852 cheaper.
[Audi A4]
White-collar favorite, the most common Audi!
A lot of people love this kind of car very much, Audi`s basic model, beautiful appearance, powerful performance, Australian dollar for $64245, about 334074 yuan. The domestic price for the same car is ¥ three hundred and fifty five thousand two hundred.
Australia is 21,126 yuan cheaper! Australia`s price advantage highlights!
【BMW X5】
This large SUV is best suited, with the latest 16-year price of $132184, or about $ six hundred and eighty six thousand four hundred.
And a look at the domestic price editor`s heart said he received a shock. nine hundred and twenty thousand!
The math good classmate helps the editor to confirm again, this is the difference is close to two hundred and forty thousand yuan!
[Ferrari]
Say the car, naturally cannot let go of the luxury car Ferrari!
Not to be surprised! This red convertible Ferrari sports car is so beautiful that you can see it for $457002, or about $2.34 million.
Often go to the car show to see the model, no, car-watching friends should have seen this Ferrari in the country, nearly 3.1 million Softsister dollar price estimate we can only see.
Australia`s price is nearly seven hundred and sixty thousand RMB cheaper!
Conclusion: fellas, aren`t you particularly moved? Having a car is also very important in Australia, where there is a wide range of inconvenient traffic.
Second-hand cars are even cheaper, usually only half as much as new cars!
There are advantages and disadvantages. Foreign auto companies also value this characteristic of Australia, have invested in the Australian market, fierce competition for local carmakers have closed down, all of which are intertwined.
