As part of its ongoing commitment to Australia and its Australian customers, Ford has today announced it will be investing in a fifth Victorian location, a modern logistics hub that will serve the current and future needs of customers, dealers and the business.
Located at Merrifield Business Park in Mickleham, Ford’s new parts distribution facility builds on the company’s commitment to offering exceptional service to its Australian customers and represents the biggest investment in Ford Australia’s parts business in 60 years.
This is the latest in a raft of improvements by Ford that are designed to set the company up for its next phase of growth and cater to customers’ changing needs, such as requirements related to electrified vehicles. It also follows Ford’s recent investments in its Broadmeadows product development centre, new Innovation Hub, and the expansion of its world-class Design Centre.
Kay Hart, President & CEO, Ford Australia and New Zealand, said the move was an important step in continually improving service for customers and dealers. “Our focus is on giving our customers the best experience possible, and that means making sure we have an efficient parts supply system for both our dealers and Ford owners.”
“With space and great transport infrastructure links, this new site will enable us to store, and quickly distribute the parts we need for the current and future generations of vehicles, including electrified vehicles. It will also give our Ford team the space it needs to grow our business into the future,” she added. “We know that it isn’t enough to offer great vehicles; we also need to offer exceptional customer service and to support our dealers to do that. That’s why this investment is so important to us.”
The new built-for-purpose site, located at the Merrifield Business Park in Mickleham, is secured under a long-term lease and will be fully operated by Ford staff. The site measures 87,691m2, and will include a 50,000m2 purpose-built distribution centre, and feature a 5 Star Green Energy rating, super awning, and 14.6m clearance height. With the site’s close proximity to key rail, road and airport infrastructure, it provides the Ford Customer Service Division (FCSD) an ideal base for its logistics hub. Ford staff based at the hub will benefit from ample parking, a cafeteria and a walking track.
The new distribution centre will be one of the largest automotive parts distribution centres in Australia, enabling Ford to ensure that its full vehicle line-up is well supported. Operations at the facility are expected to begin in late-2021 and will operate alongside Ford’s existing sites in Victoria, supporting the company’s 2,500+ workforce located at Broadmeadows, Richmond, Geelong and the You Yangs Proving Ground.