Ford Ranger has been a staple and icon of the Ford lineup for generations. The tough, rugged truck was introduced in the United States in 1983 to compete against Japanese small trucks and has done well against the competition. In the first half of 2015, Ford Ranger was the best selling vehicle in South Africa, and Ford has announced that they will begin assembling the Ranger in Nigeria beginning in the fourth quarter of this year.
The move to assemble Rangers in Nigeria is part of an expansion for Ford in the Middle East and Africa and Ford is partnering with Coscharis Motors Limited on the project. The assembly of Ranger will take place in Ikeja in the Lagos State which is about 50 miles southwest of Nigeria’s capital city Abuja. Ranger will be built as a semi-knockdown level and will use parts and components that are imported from South Africa on the Ranger.
One-hundred eighty jobs are expected to come from the production of Ranger in Ikeja and the plant will have the capacity to produce up to 5,000 units on a yearly basis. Rangers that are assembled in Ikeja will be sold only in Nigeria. Ford will be sending experienced employees to Nigeria to assist in implementing the Global Ford Production System. They will focus on the highest standard of quality, safety, and delivery.
The Ford Ranger is currently sold in 24 countries throughout the continent of Africa today. Later this year, Ford will be sold with updated features and styling. Ford is known for being able to drive through up to 800mm deep of water and has a ground clearance of 230mm. Ranger has switch on the fly 4×4 capabilities that allow it to go from two wheel drive to four wheel drive with the turn of a knob.
Ford Motor Company of South Africa produces the Ranger for 148 automotive markets including Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Ford also produces vehicles in the United States, Mexico, China, Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Thailand, Malaysia, Venezuela, and Canada just to name a few of them. Ford continues to produce vehicles that are safe, economical, and full of the latest features for customers.
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