Ford's updated Ranger pick-up has come off the production line at its assembly plant in Silverton, South Africa. According to a company statement, Ford has been verifying quality, processes, and suppliers at its facility in South Africa as it plans to increase the production of the new Ford Ranger. The new model will be exported to 148 countries from the Silverton plant. The vehicle is powered by the choice of four engines – three diesel and one gasoline (petrol – with either six-speed manual or auto transmission and stop/start fuel-saving technology. The new model is updated with new technologies to provide better comfort, refinement, efficiency, and quality.
Significance: Ford is the third largest-selling automaker in South Africa. Its success there is primarily attributable to robust demand for its Ranger series, sales of which reached 28,734 units in 2014. IHS Automotive forecasts that sales of the Ranger series in South Africa will grow by 8.89% to 31,289 units in 2015. The Ranger is produced at the Silverton assembly plant in Pretoria, which is one of three factories around the world producing the vehicle. The other two are in Thailand and Argentina. Ford is reportedly looking to increase production and boost its workforce in South Africa as demand for the Ranger pick-up increases.
