THE latest Ford Ranger bakkie was the leading vehicle export from South Africa in September, with 9 829 units shipped from Ford’s Silverton Assembly Plant to customers in more than 100 markets around the world.
This was its highest export volume for the year, surpassing the 8 595 units exported in June 2022.
Combined with domestic sales of 1 604 units, total Ranger volume for September reached 11 433 units.
“It’s encouraging to see that global demand for the current Ranger remains high even during its run-out phase, and despite the challenges we have faced over the past two years,” said executive sales operations director Dhiren Vanmali.
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Ford invested R15,8 billion in its Silverton Assembly Plant operations and supplier tooling for the Next-Gen Ranger.
This included the construction of an all-new high-tech body shop, an on-site stamping plant and the only Ford-owned Frame Line in the world located in the adjacent Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone.
All of the existing manufacturing facilities were modernised and upgraded to deliver world-class quality.
It also facilitated the highest-ever installed capacity for the Silverton Assembly Plant, which is now capable of producing up to 200 000 vehicles a year.
An additional R600 million was invested in the Struandale Engine Plant in Gqeberha for the launch of the new 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine that will power the range-topping Next-Gen Ranger models.
It also introduced updated versions of the current 2.0-litre Single Turbo and Bi-Turbo engines that are assembled at the Struandale plant, and will be the mainstay of the new Ranger line-up.
