By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Trade, Industry and Competition Minister, Ebrahim Patel has welcomed the announcement made by Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) regarding the expansion of its production to include plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in the Ford Ranger programme.
The automotive manufacturer has announced it will start producing plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) Ranger models at its manufacturing plant in Silverton, Pretoria, late next year.
The automaker is investing R5.2-billion in expanding its existing facility to accommodate the new models on the same assembly lines as the diesel and petrol vehicles, and in building a dedicated battery pack assembly facility.
Ford Middle East & Africa operations VP Ockert Berry, said with the South African Ford facilities already being geared up to produce Ranger vehicles, it made sense for the group to expand to PHEV Ranger production.
It will be the first time in two decades that the Silverton plant will be supplying vehicles to the Australian and New Zealand markets.
Globally, the automotive sector has undergone significant changes, necessitating the adoption of cleaner technologies.
Patel said, the implementation of relevant policies and legislation supporting the production and uptake of new electric vehicles (NEVs) is vital in encouraging the transition from traditional internal combustion engine vehicles (ICE) to clean and energy-efficient alternatives.
FMCSA’s commitment to producing PHEVs aligns with the Ford+ global strategy, marking a significant milestone in the company’s journey towards sustainable mobility.
Production of the Ford Ranger plug-in hybrid electric vehicles is expected to commence in the third quarter of 2024, and the vehicles manufactured at the Silverton Assembly Plant will be exported to over 100 markets globally, including the United Kingdom (UK) and European Union (EU) member states.
“We look forward to collaborating closely with Ford to establish the PHEV facility at the Silverton plant in Gauteng. This partnership will contribute to the future sustainability of the automotive sector and create a cleaner, greener environment for all,” Patel said.
The sector is expected to receive a further boost once the Electric Vehicle White Paper is finalised by South Africa, which is expected during the current financial year.