Ford leases ro-ro to cut delays

Ford Australia has signed an exclusive three-year lease deal on a roll-on, roll-off vessel in an attempt to cut customer wait times for new vehicles on both sides of the Tasman.

The vehicle carrier, Grand Quest, is set to deliver models from the blue oval’s Thailand plants to customers in Australia and New Zealand – particularly the Ford Ranger and Everest. 

Andrew Birkic, president and chief executive officer, Ford Australia and New Zealand, says: “We are investing significantly in tackling the ongoing supply chain issues head-on, with a focus on ensuring customer cars are delivered as quickly as possible.

“Securing an exclusive three-year lease of the Grand Quest will allow Ford Australia to deliver more vehicles to both Australia and New Zealand as we continue to face unprecedented levels of demand.”

He adds that along with the Grand Quest, which has a capacity of 2,600 vehicles, and regular shipments shared with other manufacturers, the company will continue to exclusively charter ships for a handful of trips at a time.

The Grand Quest is operated by Polaris Autoliners Ltd, which works closely with Ford Motor Company globally and has already delivered thousands of vehicles to Australia.

Iris Moreno, vehicle logistics manager, Ford Australia, says: “In a time of great logistical uncertainty, taking the initiative to lease our own ship gives Ford the ability to determine shipping routes and volumes by port, allowing us greater control in very challenging conditions.”

In a further effort to reduce delivery delays due to port congestion around Australia, the marque has also begun transporting some new Ranger and Everest models in shipping containers to tap into another unloading option.