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| The 2016 Mustang |
“OUR plan is working,” said Rob Crouse, Ford South Africa’s sales
and marketing director.
Speaking at Ford’s second annual Go Further Africa event, held in
Johannesburg on August 11, Crouse was referring to the 15% market share Ford now
enjoys in South Africa.
Jeff Nemith, president and CEO Ford Motor Company of Sub-Saharan
Africa region, predicts this share will grow on the back of eight new Fords
coming to Africa, a new assembly plant in Nigeria, and even two Ford electric
bicycles.
 |
| An old Mustang |
These eight models are the all-wheel drive Focus RS hatchback; the
more fuel-efficient Ranger bakkie range; the Everest SUV, which arrives at
dealerships across Africa in the fourth quarter; the Mustang; the affordable
Figo sedan; the B-MAX with its sliding doors; the Edge sedan and, finally, the
3,7-litre, V6 Explorer Police Interceptor, the top-selling law-enforcement
vehicle in the United States and brought to southern Africa on the advice of the
Ford Police Advisory Board in the U.S.
 |
| The Ranger. 'nuff said. |
Erica Klampfl, future mobility manager at Ford Motor Company, said
the e-bikes form part of Ford’s plan to create “the next level in connectivity,
mobility, autonomous vehicles, big data and an overall emphasis on improving the
customer experience”.
 |
| The Edge promises to give Ford some. |
“The eBike is designed for all types of commercial uses and is
aimed at reducing congestion by allowing small businesses and courier companies
to deliver goods without negatively impacting on traffic,” said Klampfl.
 |
| The Figo now has booty. |
She said to help change the way the world moves, Ford is also
gathering and mining big data through an open source project called Ford X-Car
Social Innovation Action Partnership (SIAP).
 |
| Look mom, just like the Mazda 5! |
Nemeth said Ford is partnering with Coscharis Motors group in
Nigeria to assemble Ranger bakkies in Ikeja, in the Lagos State. The bodies will
be sourced from the Silverton plant in Pretoria and engines from Struandale
plant in Port Elizabeth.
 |
| Ford knows none of the new models will the same impact as the Capri. |
“This means more work for the plants and their
suppliers,” said Nemeth, adding Nigeria will be the second African country to
build Ford vehicles, To service its models across Africa, Ford also plans to
have 22 Quick Lane Tyre and Auto Centre across Sub-Saharan Africa by 2018.
