Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa has announced it will invest R3 billion to expand the production capacity at its South African manufacturing operations. This is to meet growing local and international demand for the trend-setting Ford Ranger.
Following the investment is other news .
Ford is introducing an entirely new level of off-road vehicles to the one-ton pickup market – the Ranger Raptor, to be produced locally in 2019.
“As part of our strategic planning to accommodate the growing market volumes for the Ranger in South Africa and our export markets, the R3 billion investment will cover both product and capacity-related actions,” said Ockert Berry, vice president of operations for Ford in the Middle East and Africa.
“This investment re-affirms Ford’s ongoing commitment to South Africa as a local manufacturer, exporter and employer in the automotive sector.”
The extensive Ranger model line-up and its range of technology, safety and comfort features makes it one of South Africa’s best-selling vehicles.
The range will be boosted in 2019 when the exciting Ranger Raptor starts on the Silverton assembly line.
Dr Casper Kruger, MD of Ford Motor Company for Sub-Saharan Africa, said: “The response to our announcement that we will be introducing a Ranger Raptor has been absolutely phenomenal.
“We’re exceptionally proud to now confirm this highly anticipated model will be assembled in South Africa.”
As an exciting new addition to the Ford family, the Ranger Raptor is a purpose-built, desert-racing inspired model that builds on the unrivalled heritage of Ford Performance’s legendary F-150 Raptor, the world’s most extreme production pickup.
The Raptor is designed and engineered to deliver an adrenaline-pumping driving experience with a look of toughness!
