Ford's sub-Saharan push likely to boost South African operations

Ford's Silverton facility expects to build up to 75,000 this year, compared with 63,000 last year.

As Ford embarks on efforts to intensify marketing and production in sub-Saharan Africa, the company's South African manufacturing operations, its only unit in the Middle East and Africa region, are most likely to benefit, reports Business Day, citing Stephen Odell, president of Ford's European, Middle East, and African operations. Ford Southern Africa builds the Ranger pick-up at its Silverton assembly plant in Pretoria and engines in Port Elizabeth. "When you look at the size of Silverton, you have to say there is capacity to source more from here," said Odell. "You normally supply a region from within that region. I can't exclude the possibility of new products being built in South Africa," said Odell, without being too forthcoming on other possible African sites for vehicle or component production.