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Ford Plans To Assemble Ranger Pickup Trucks In Nigeria

Ford Plans To Assemble Ranger Pickup Trucks In Nigeria

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, the U.S.-based company said in a press release.

The truck is a strong product, according to the DetroitFreePress. Global sales increased 40 percent in 2014. Ford builds the pickup in South Africa, Argentina and Thailand.

You can’t actually buy a Ford ranger pickup truck in the U.S., to the chagrin of its many fans, USAToday reports.  The Ranger is built and sold around the world — except North America. The last U.S.-built Ranger rolled off the line Dec. 2011 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Customers who want the pickup are redirected to a larger model but a core of customers still ask for the return of the smaller pickup, according to USAToday.

Ranger assembly will begin in Ikeja, Lagos State, about 750 kilometers (466 miles) southwest of Nigeria’s capital city Abuja, the company said. 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 in a prepared statement. “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.”

Assemble Ranger pickup trucks in Nigeria

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.”

In line with the operating procedures for Ford plants around the world, Ford said it will send experienced employees to Nigeria to assist with implementing its global production system.

The Ford Ranger was the best-selling vehicle in South Africa for the first half of 2015, and is sold in 24 African countries, according to the company.

Later this year, Ford will begin selling an updated Ranger with new style and features.

Coscharis manages auto sales and services centers throughout Nigeria.

Ford is based in Dearborn, Michigan.