The Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) has commenced local production of the Everest sport utility vehicle following an investment of R2.5 billion in its manufacturing plant in Silverton in Pretoria.

The production of the first Everest model commenced at the plant in October and signalled the start of a new era for the vehicle manufacturer because the plant will now become a two-vehicle assembly facility that also produces the Ranger for export to 148 markets in Africa, the Middle East and Europe.

“The start of local production for the Ford Everest is another major milestone for FMCSA’s Manufacturing division in implementing Ford’s Global Facility and Process Standards. We are confident that the locally produced Ford Everest will deliver outstanding results for us, our employees and, most importantly, our customers,” says Ockert Berry, VP Operations.

The Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) has commenced local production of the Everest sport utility vehicle following an investment of R2.5 billion in its manufacturing plant in Silverton in Pretoria.

The production of the first Everest model commenced at the plant in October and signalled the start of a new era for the vehicle manufacturer because the plant will now become a two-vehicle assembly facility that also produces the Ranger for export to 148 markets in Africa, the Middle East and Europe.

“The start of local production for the Ford Everest is another major milestone for FMCSA’s Manufacturing division in implementing Ford’s Global Facility and Process Standards. We are confident that the locally produced Ford Everest will deliver outstanding results for us, our employees and, most importantly, our customers,” says Ockert Berry, VP Operations.

The Everest will be produced for the South African market and exported to countries across Sub-Saharan Africa.

This follows a combined R2.5-billion investment in Ford’s local operations for the Everest and Ranger programmes, creating approximately 1 200 new jobs at Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA), and within its supplier network.

“The Ford Everest has been a very popular addition to our local line-up, but thus far has only been available in the two high-specification 4×4 models which were fully imported from Thailand,” says Tracey Delate, General Marketing Manager, FMCSA.

Derivatives
“Local production has now enabled us to expand the offering with an additional six model derivatives, two engine choices, three trim levels, the option of manual and automatic transmissions, as well as two and four-wheel drive versions,” he said.

Jeff Nemeth, the president and chief executive of the Ford Motor Company sub-Saharan Africa region, said in April the investment in the Silverton plant would be for all the production facilities for the Everest.

This included the body shop, the carriers and special tools it took to build a sport utility vehicle in addition to the Ranger pick-up, for the new Ranger that was launched in October, investments in Ford’s supplier base, to reconfigure engines at the engine plant in Port Elizabeth and for training.

The Everest will be produced for the South African market and exported to countries across Sub-Saharan Africa.

This follows a combined R2.5-billion investment in Ford’s local operations for the Everest and Ranger programmes, creating approximately 1 200 new jobs at Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA), and within its supplier network.

“The Ford Everest has been a very popular addition to our local line-up, but thus far has only been available in the two high-specification 4×4 models which were fully imported from Thailand,” says Tracey Delate, General Marketing Manager, FMCSA.

Derivatives
“Local production has now enabled us to expand the offering with an additional six model derivatives, two engine choices, three trim levels, the option of manual and automatic transmissions, as well as two and four-wheel drive versions,” he said.

Jeff Nemeth, the president and chief executive of the Ford Motor Company sub-Saharan Africa region, said in April the investment in the Silverton plant would be for all the production facilities for the Everest.

This included the body shop, the carriers and special tools it took to build a sport utility vehicle in addition to the Ranger pick-up, for the new Ranger that was launched in October, investments in Ford’s supplier base, to reconfigure engines at the engine plant in Port Elizabeth and for training.