Ford Will Assemble Best-Selling Ranger Trucks in Nigeria
August 11 2015 - 9:30AM
Business Wire
- New Ford assembly facility in Ikeja
will begin operation in the fourth quarter of 2015
- Ford Motor Company partners with
Coscharis Motors Limited in Nigeria
- Nigeria to be first African country
outside South Africa where Ford vehicles are produced
Ford Motor Company today announced it will assemble its popular
Ford Ranger pickup truck in Nigeria starting in the fourth quarter
of 2015 as part of its expansion in Middle East and Africa. Nigeria
will be the first African country outside of South Africa where
Ford vehicles are produced.
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At Go Further South Africa 2015, Ford
South Africa President and CEO Jeff Nemeth (left) and Coscharis
Motors Limited President Dr. Cosmas Maduka (right) announced a new
manufacturing facility in Nigeria to assemble the best-selling Ford
Ranger. (Photo: Business Wire)
Ranger assembly will begin in Ikeja, in the Lagos State about
750 km southwest of Nigeria’s capital city Abuja. Ford is
partnering with Ford dealer group Coscharis Motors Limited on the
project.
“Assembling Ford Ranger trucks in Africa’s largest economy is an
important milestone in our Middle East and Africa growth plan,”
said Jim Benintende, president of Ford Middle East & Africa.
“With Coscharis we have the right partner and with the Ford Ranger
we have the right product to deliver a world class truck that
Nigerian customers want and value.”
Ford will assemble the vehicles at a semi-knockdown level, using
body parts and components imported from South Africa for the new
Ranger. The new assembly plant in Ikeja will create approximately
180 jobs directly and indirectly, and has the capacity to assemble
up to 5,000 units annually. Vehicles assembled at Ikeja are
destined for sale in Nigeria only.
“Nigeria is a priority market for us in Sub-Saharan Africa and
today’s announcement will allow us to better serve our customers
both from a retail point of view, and in terms of vehicle and parts
availability,” said Jeff Nemeth, president and CEO of Ford Motor
Company of Sub-Saharan Africa region. “We are committed to
supporting Nigeria’s developing automotive industry and economy
together with Coscharis, and are looking forward to being active in
the community. New assembly operations, even on a smaller scale
like this one, have very positive ripple effects in the local
economy and work force.”
Dr. Cosmas Maduka, president of Coscharis Motors said: “We value
our partnership with Ford immensely and we are looking forward to
having the opportunity assemble world class Ford Rangers in
Nigeria. This partnership will boost Nigeria’s much needed march
towards industrialisation and create an important step in the
development of the automotive industry."
In line with the operating procedures for Ford plants around the
world, Ford will send experienced employees to Nigeria to assist
with implementing the Global Ford Production System, which focuses
on the highest standards for safety, quality and delivery.
Ford Ranger
The Ford Ranger was the best-selling vehicle South Africa for
the first half of 2015, and is currently sold in 24 countries
throughout the continent. Whether towing heavy loads of up to 3,500
kg, taking advantage of its exceptional payload capacity, or
driving on city roads, highways or off the beaten track, the Ranger
is designed and engineered for work and play, no matter the
conditions.
Later this year, Ford will begin selling an updated Ranger with
new styling and new features.
“The new Ford Ranger is world class with an aggressive exterior,
a premium, sporty, interior, the latest driver assist technologies
and capabilities that ensure it’s up for any work or adventure,”
said Nemeth. “The new Ranger is bolder, smarter and more refined
for customers who want to combine genuine 4x4 capabilities with
stand-out styling and premium features.”
It features a class-leading ability to wade through water up to
800 mm deep, and has 230 mm of ground clearance. And with a
28-degree approach angle and 25-degree departure angle, customers
feel confident when taking on steep terrain. The impressive
capabilities of the Ranger are easy to use. A robust electronically
controlled transfer case allows drivers in 4x4 models to shift on
the fly from 4x2 to 4x4 high with a knob on the center console. For
low-speed torque or additional downhill braking, drivers can also
engage low-range 4x4 gearing. An electronic locking rear
differential helps to improve traction in difficult conditions.
Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa produces the Ranger for
148 markets including Europe, Middle East and Africa.
About Coscharis Motors
Coscharis Motors, part of Coscharis Group, manages Auto Sales
and Auto Services centres with state-of-the-art Showrooms and
workshops throughout Nigeria. Founded in 1983, the company began
with the business of importation and distribution of genuine
automotive spare parts and accessories. In 2001, Coscharis Motors
expanded its automobile range by diversifying into the sales of
Ford Vehicles. The Ford ranges include Figo, Fiesta, Focus, Fusion,
Mondeo and Taurus (all sedan). The Ford 4X4 on offering are Ranger,
Escape, Everest, Galaxy, Edge and Explorer. The company also sells
the ford Transit. www.coscherisgroup.com.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in
Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six
continents. With about 195,000 employees and 66 plants worldwide,
the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The
company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit
Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products
worldwide, please visit www.corporate.ford.com. For news releases,
related materials and high-resolution photos and video, visit
www.media.ford.com or www.quickpic.co.za , follow at
www.facebook.com/FordNigeria, www.twitter.com/ FordNigeria,
www.instagram.com/ FordNigeria or www.youtube.com/ FordNigeria
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150811005742/en/
Ford Motor Company of Southern AfricaAlisea Chetty, +27 12 842
2707achetty2@ford.com
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