Ford F-150 Raptor Not Being Considered For Australia

In Australia, the Ford F-150 was added to the automaker’s lineup back in the fall of 2023, where it’s being treated to a right-hand drive conversion by a company called RMA Automotive. There, it has only been sold in two trims thus far – XLT and Lariat – both exclusively in SuperCrew configuration with short or long beds, as well as with jus one engine choice – the twin-turbocharged 3.5L V6 EcoBoost. However, while there’s seemingly consumer interest in Australia pertaining to the Ford F-150 Raptor, it doesn’t look like the high-performance off-roader will be offered there.

“Look, I hate to say never,” Kay Hart, head of Ford’s International Markets Group (IMG), told Drive when asked about the possibility that Australia may get the Ford F-150 Raptor. “I don’t believe the F-150 Raptor as a right-hand drive conversion is probably the right vehicle. I don’t think the volume is really there, and therefore the investment that you would need to do a right-hand drive conversion of it, the business case (isn’t there). I’m not saying customers don’t demand for it, I just think it’s very small. Especially when you look at a right hand drive converted product in an F-150, and a locally designed, built-up unit from Thailand like the Ranger Raptor, it’s a very large difference.”

Though the Ford F-150 is already on sale in Australia, it seems that adding the Ford F-150 Raptor to that mix would require additional engineering and investments that may or may not be worthwhile from a financial standpoint. Interestingly, however, Hart also recently refused to rule out the possibility that the Ford Bronco Raptor may one day be sold in Australia, though a right-hand drive version of that SUV is also facing the same sort of challenges.

In the meantime, the Australian Ford F-150 has faced its fair share of problems since launching in that country some time ago, as it was subjected to multiple recalls and a stop-sale, mostly due to turbo issues and the fact that certain lighting features didn’t meet Aussie standards. In fact, the refreshed F-150 still hasn’t landed in Australia, and was just delayed to mid-2025, too.