Could Australia Get A New One?

• Ford CEO Jim Farley is visiting Australia and spoke with local media about a new Ute model.
• The vehicle wouldn’t simply be an imported or rebadged Ford Maverick.
• Ford would build a unibody Ute specifically tailored to the demands of the Australian market.

Ford CEO Jim Farley was recently in Australia, where he spoke to local media. The subject of a Ute revival came up, and it appears Farley agrees that the Aussie market needs a new car truck.

Utes have been on the brain quite a bit as of late. Regardless, it’s a vehicle that makes sense for Australian car shoppers. The Ute was invented there and has long held a place in the hearts of many an Aussie.

Lewis Bandt Coupe Utility by Ford Australia

Photo by: Ford

Speaking to CarExpert, Farley said that the Australian market could benefit from a unibody car-based truck-style vehicle. He referenced the success of the Maverick here in the US market, while stressing that an Australian Ute would be a separate model.

“To do it right here, as a car person, I would want it not to just stamp a global solution and force the market to take it—so that’s why I’m here,” stated Farley.

The likely candidate for such a vehicle is a pre-existing small crossover already offered in right-hand-drive markets. Ideally, we’d love to see Ford pop a Falcon badge on the back of whatever it deems fit for the task.

Australia would see the return of an icon to its automotive lineup, and the world would have one more interesting and unique vehicle available for sale.

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Motor1’s Take: Australia has moved on to real trucks and SUVs in recent years, but part of that is due to a lack of Ute options. Holden is no more, and there’s no proper Ford Ute for sale at the moment. The return of a true Ute would be fun to watch, and hopefully, enough hand raisers show up with cash to provide significant sales to revive an Australian icon.

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