Ford Motor Company South Africa is celebrating some significant milestones at its engine plant in Port Elizabeth, which is gearing up for expanded production in 2018 and beyond.
This follows Ford's recent announcement of a R3 bn investment in local operations to support expanded production of some models and well as the production of the Ford Ranger Raptor at the company's Silverton plant in Pretoria from 2019.
Ford Managing director, Dr Casper Kruger, was in Port Elizabeth on Friday, to celebrate the milestones at the Struandale plant with employees and also to reaffirm the company's commitment to South Africa.
"We have done well this year, we just completed November. We had our best ever month of the year so we are very proud of our achievement, being the eleventh month of the year already. Both Fiesta and EcoSport models continue to do well for us. So, overall we are quite pleased with our performance this year," he said.
Meanwhile, Ford's Vice President of Operations for Africa and the Middle-East, Ockert Berry, said since the launch of the Ranger, the Struandale plant has produced over 500 000 engines which are used in two models that are also exported to 148 countries.
Berry said the engines from Struandale are also exported to North America, India and China.
"Since the engine plant was opened in 1964 we have grossed 3.3 million units produced in that facility, also something we are extremely proud of and also, our people that made this possible for us. Our whole journey would have been impossible without having really committed people," he said.
"Reaching 500 000 Duratorq TDCi engines, and a cumulative 3.3-million engines since 1964, is a fantastic achievement for the Struandale Engine Plant which competes with some of the best Ford plants in the world," said Berry.
"It is one of the Eastern Cape's top exporters, contributing to the success of the automotive industry and its supplier network in the region."
"Due to its unprecedented global success, demand continues to grow, both locally and internationally for the Ford Ranger," Berry said.
"Accordingly, we have invested R3-billion for both product and capacity related actions to accommodate the increasing market volumes for the Ranger in South Africa and our export markets."
"The Struandale Engine Plant already achieved its highest-ever volumes for component machining and engine assembly during 2017, and we expect to set new records again in 2018," Berry added.
"The R3-billion investment reaffirms Ford's ongoing commitment to South Africa as a local manufacturer, exporter and key employer in the automotive sector, supporting a large number of direct jobs as well as indirect employment through our extensive supplier base."
Additionally, Ford is preparing for the launch of the first-ever Ranger Raptor.
"The Ford Ranger is already one of South Africa's best-selling vehicles, and we're exceptionally proud to confirm that this highly anticipated performance model will be assembled in South Africa from 2019," said Dr Kruger.
He said that the Ranger Raptor is yet another fantastic achievement for Ford's local team.
