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Is it Hyundai’s fault the Ford Mustang is late arriving in Australia?
Well, no, but one of the more bizarre instances in maritime history has had an impact on why we haven’t got our hands on the seventh-generation pony car. You see, Ford ships the Mustang to Australia from the port of Baltimore in Maryland, USA and that particular port has been in a state of chaos even since the MV Dali container ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26.
The MV Dali was built by Hyundai Heavy Industries, which is related to the car company but not directly, hence the connection between the South Korean brand and the Blue Oval’s problem. Aside from leaving six construction workers dead and destroying the entire bridge, the Dali remained stuck in the busy shipping channel from March 26 until May 21, causing further delays getting cargo in and out of Baltimore.
According to US reports, the port handled approximately 750,000 vehicles in 2023, so it is a major logistics hub for American car makers. The Dali’s crash forced Ford, along with General Motors, to find alternative shipping ports for the Mustangs bound for Australia.
The good news is, Ford has seemingly found an alternative and has confirmed the Mustang will arrive before the end of 2024, but hasn’t revealed specific timing.
“We’re very excited for the arrival of the seventh-generation Mustang on Australian shores later this year,” a Ford spokesperson told CarsGuide. “Our customers have been extremely patient as we experienced shipping challenges and delays. Australian vehicles are beginning to flow, heading to Australia. This is fantastic news, and we look forward to seeing those vehicles on Australian shores soon.”
The seventh-generation Mustang will arrive with three variants - the iconic GT, four-cylinder EcoBoost and new hero model, the Dark Horse.
Ford Australia has already confirmed pricing for the new range. The EcoBoost Fastback, which is powered by a new version of Ford's 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine, starting at $64,990. The V8-powered GT coupe is priced from $77,002 for the six-speed manual and $80,902 for the 10-speed automatic. The only convertible in the range will be the GT drop-top, which is only available with the auto and will be priced at $86,102.
Finally, the Dark Horse will sit at the top of the range and take the Mustang into uncharted financial territory, starting at $99,102 for the six-speed Tremec manual and $103,002 for the automatic.
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