The early 1980s saw the end of the European Fords for the Malaysian market as the automaker had decided to team up with Mazda to share certain models. Ford required the manufacturing efficiency and lower production costs of the Japanese in order to offer competitively-priced models. It adapted the Mazda 323 and 626 to become the Laser and Telstar, an arrangement that went on till the 2000s.
The Cortina had been replaced by the futuristic looking Sierra and the Escort went into a new generation that had front-wheel drive for the first time. Had the market conditions not changed with the Japanese displacing the European brands, perhaps these models would have been sold on a large scale. But they were too expensive compared to Japanese models in the same class.
At that time, Ford Malaysia was also ceasing operations and Wearne Brothers, which had handled the Ford brand for many years, was also winding down its operations as new government policies required the foreign-owned companies to restructure with more local participation. Some companies abided by this while others decided to exit the market.
In the interim, Ford appointed SSM as an authorised dealer to provide support to Ford owners while it looked for a solution to continue its business in Malaysia. Eventually, PERNAS and Sime Darby formed a joint venture which handled the Ford franchise through a company called AMIM (Associated Motor Industries Malaysia). That company evolved into the Auto ConneXion of today under Sime Motors.
SSM kept interest in Ford alive by importing the Sierra XR4i and Escort XR3i, both sporty variants of the models. The Sierra had a 2.8-litre engine and cost RM81,000 with a turbo and RM70,000 without. The Escort XR3i was RM46,000 and with a turbo, the price was RM10,000 more.
With AMIM having been established and taking over the sales and aftersales of Ford, SSM’s role gradually diminished and the company faded away before the 1980s ended.