Ford Laser: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 05:59, 30 May 2004

Revision as of 06:00, 30 May 2004

Line 10:

Local production of the Laser in Australia ceased when Ford closed its plant in Homebush in [[Sydney]], while in [[New Zealand]], the Laser, along with the Mazda 323, was assembled locally in a joint venture assembly plant in Wiri, [[Auckland]] known as Vehicle Assemblers of New Zealand (VANZ). This closed in [[1997]], and Ford New Zealand then briefly sold the [[Ford Escort]] imported from the UK. Unfortunately, the Asian economic crisis and unfavourable exchange rate meant that the Escort, and its successor, the [[Ford Focus]], was too expensive, and the Laser was reintroduced in [[1999]].

However, thethis [[badge- engineering]] of Mazdas as Fords proved less popular in [[South Africa]], although the Ford Tonic, based on an early version of the Laser, was offered as an entry-level model after the introduction of the [[Ford Escort]]. A pick-up version called the [[Ford Bantam]], unique to South Africa, was also sold.

In [[1987]], a version of the Laser built in [[Mexico]] was exported to the [[United States|USA]] and [[Canada]], where it was known as the [[Mercury Tracer]]. In [[1989]], the US [[Ford Escort]] was replaced by a version of the Laser/323, although the Escort name was retained.