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- The Silverton Plant in Pretoria features a new Stamping Plant and the only Ford-owned and operated Frame Line in the world.
- Production capacity increased, and 200,000 vehicles were built annually.
- The Ranger bakkie will continue to be exported to more than 100 global markets.
Ford’s Silverton Plant flipped the metaphorical switch as production of the current Ranger ended, and hours later, continuous production of the Next-Gen Ranger began. This makes the Silverton Plant only the third production hub in the world to do so, with two other operational plants based in Thailand. Elsewhere, plants in the US and Argentina will begin production in 2023.
“Starting production of the Next-Gen Ranger in South Africa highlights our commitment to delivering the right products for our customers, not only in South Africa but around the world,” said Dianne Craig, president of Ford International Markets Group (IMG).
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The very first next-generation Ford Ranger was built at the Silverton Plant in Pretoria. Ford SA employees are celebrating this new milestone.
“South Africa is an important part of our global Ranger manufacturing network. It is exciting to witness the R10.3 billion rand investment being used to modernize and transform the Silverton Assembly Plant to produce vehicles of the absolute best quality for to customers around the world.”
To meet these lofty targets domestically and in more than 100 export markets, the Silverton Plant underwent several ground-breaking upgrades. This includes the construction of its first on-site Stamping Plant, a new fully automated Body Shop, and introduction of the latest Trim, Chassis and Final line vehicle assembly operations. Furthermore, the world’s only Ford-owned and operated Frame Line was built in the new Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ) supplier park adjacent to the Silverton Assembly Plant.
This is topped off by Ford’s Engine Plant in Gqeberha, where another investment of R600 million will help Ford produce a new 3.0-litre V6 engine and the necessary upgrades to the 2.0L Single Turbo and 2.0L B-Turbo diesel engines .
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The very first next-generation Ford Ranger was built at the Silverton Plant in Pretoria. Ford SA employees are celebrating this new milestone.
Uncompromising quality
These upgrades were implemented to enhance the overall quality of the Next-Gen Ranger. By bringing it in-house, Ford South Africa can ensure complete control over production quality from start to finish.
“The latest generation measurement and scanning systems provide us with real-time data throughout production, ensuring we can quickly identify and address any quality concerns before the part leaves its production site, ” explains Ockert Berry, VP of Operations at Ford South Africa.
“This data is stored in our global quality management system, which allows us to monitor trends and proactively respond to any potential issues.”
The very first next-generation Ford Ranger was built at the Silverton Plant in Pretoria. Ford SA employees are celebrating this new milestone earlier in November.
Employment opportunities and economic development
Ford is also investing in the people of South Africa. Larger operations combine with a larger workforce, with 1200 new jobs and a third shift. This brings the total workforce up to 5 500 jobs, and another 10 000 jobs added throughout the value chain.
Local Launch
The Next-Gen Ranger will make its local media debut in the first week of December, after which derivatives and pricing will be confirmed. The Ranger has remained one of the top selling cars in South Africa and with these upgrades to the Silverton, Ford South Africa is not resting on its laurels.
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