Ford Ends Car Production in Australia

Ford Motor Co. phased out car production in Australia today, 91 years after it began making vehicles there.

The final car assembled at Ford’s plant in Melbourne was a Falcon XR6, a rear-drive sport sedan that once was one of Australia’s most popular models. But demand for domestically produced cars has been eroded by cheaper imports.

Ford, along with General Motors and Toyota, said in 2013 it was ending local manufacturing operations because of high production costs and dwindling export opportunities. GM and Toyota plan to do the same next year.