The current Ford Ranger pick-up was the largest vehicle export from South Africa in September 2022, with 9 829 units transported from Ford’s Silverton Assembly Plant to customers in more than 100 markets worldwide – the year’s greatest export volume, surpassing the 8 595 units sold in June 2022. When domestic sales of 1 604 units were added, the total Ranger volume for September reached 11 433 units.
Ford invested R15.8 billion in Silverton Assembly Plant operations and supplier tooling for the Next-Gen Ranger. This included the development of an all-new high-tech Body Shop, an on-site Stamping Plant, and the world’s only Ford-owned Frame Line, which is located in the neighbouring Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ). Furthermore, all existing manufacturing facilities were modernized and updated to provide world-class quality. It also facilitated the Silverton Assembly Plant’s highest-ever installed capacity, which is now capable of producing up to 200 000 vehicles per year.
An additional R600 million was invested at Gqeberha’s Struandale Engine Plant for the launch of the new 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine that would power the range-topping Next-Gen Ranger vehicles. It also debuted improved versions of the current 2.0-litre Single Turbo and Bi-Turbo engines, which are built at the Struandale facility and will be the foundation of the new Ranger line-up.
Ford has also received tremendous customer interest in the Next-Gen Everest and the powerful Next-Gen Ranger Raptor, both of which will be available in the first quarter of 2023. With the Silverton Assembly Plant boosting Ranger production, the Next-Gen Everest and Ranger Raptor are now wholly imported from Thailand rather than being manufactured locally, as was the case with the previous range.
The Next-Gen Ranger Raptor is designed to outperform the existing model, most notably by replacing the present 2.0L Bi-Turbo diesel engine with a 292kW 3.0L twin-turbo petrol engine mated to an even more modern suspension and transmission. “Our Next-Gen Ranger Raptor has sparked an even more intense following among our clients, who can’t wait to get behind the wheel of this remarkable machine,” says Dhiren Vanmali, Executive Sales Operations Director.
“We are unfortunately constrained by global supply and logistics constraints that limit our delivery capacity with both of these cars made in Thailand,”
Vanmali explains.
“Our teams are working around the clock to expedite vehicle arrivals and ensure that they reach dealers and customers as quickly as possible.” We are certain that the Next-Gen Everest and Raptor Ranger will meet or exceed the expectations of those who have reserved a new vehicle.”
