The Ford Laser was a small family car sold by Ford in Asia, Australasia, and parts of South America and Africa. It was the basis of later Escort models sold in North America, which is not to be confused with the model of the same name sold in Europe. It was also known as the Lidea in Japan, the Tierra in Taiwan. A version of Laser, known as the Lynx remains in production in Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia.

It has generally been available as a sedan or hatchback, although cabriolet, wagon and pick-up versions have also been available in different markets.

The Ford Laser is, in fact, a restyled version of the 323 produced by Mazda in Japan since 1980. (Ford had acquired a 25 per cent stake in Mazda in 1979.) The Laser replaced the rear-wheel-drive Escort in Australasia in 1981, proving hugely popular as a hatchback, as well as a sedan (also known as the Meteor, and providing a worthy rival to Japanese models like the Toyota Corolla; the Meteor nameplate died in Australia when the second-generation sedan was launched in 1985, but survived in South Africa until 1995.

Asia Pacific

2001 Ford Laser five-door, KQ series, New Zealand

Many buyers in Australia and New Zealand were totally unaware that the Laser was Japanese at all, with Ford being seen as a 'local' brand. In those markets, the Laser outsold its Mazda twin, but in neighbouring Asian countries, such as Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, as well as Japan itself, the reverse was the case. However, pooling resources with Mazda allowed Ford to maintain a footold in the region, which it would otherwise have lost. This was also the case in South America, Africa, and the Caribbean, where the Laser was also sold, in many cases being locally assembled.

Local production of the Laser in Australia ceased in 1995 when Ford closed its plant in Homebush in Sydney, and imported the model from Japan, while Ford New Zealand continued to assemble the Laser locally until 1997.

Southern Africa

The Laser was first introduced in Zimbabwe in 1981, but was not introduced in South Africa until 1986, when it replaced the European-sourced Escort. At this time, Ford in South Africa had established a joint venture with Anglo American Corporation, which assembled Mazdas, before it finally divested from the country in 1988.However, this badge engineering of the Mazda 323 as the Ford Laser and Meteor, proved less popular in South Africa than it did in Australasia.

The same model remained in production in South Africa until 1995, when it was replaced by the Ford Escort, although the Ford Tonic, using the 323 bodyshell, was offered as an entry-level model. A pick-up version called the Ford Bantam, unique to South Africa, was also sold, before it was replaced by a version of the Ford Fiesta.

North America

In 1987, a version of the Laser built in Mexico was exported to the 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. The Escort Wagon seen in North America during that generation was unique to that continent and was not part of the Laser ranges elsewhere.

The Laser has now been replaced in most markets around the world by the European-sourced Focus, designated as one of Ford's 'world cars'. The Mazda 323 replacement, the Mazda3, is also based on the same platform as the new model Focus, meaning that both companies' products in this market segment will use the same platform around the world.

See also

• Ford Escort
• Ford Falcon
• Ford Festiva
• Ford Meteor
• Ford Telstar

External links

• Sorting out worldwide Ford compact models
• List of Ford Laser models with pictures and details on engine used
• Website dedicated to Ford Laser modification