Ford Motor Company Expands In Africa By Producing Ford Ranger
Ford Motor Company establishes its plant in Nigeria in attempts to capture market.
The American vehicle-manufacturer, Ford Motor Company, has taken an initiative to appease African drivers. Ford news exclaimed that the Michigan-based enterprise has proclaimed it would start assembling its well-known Ranger trucks in Nigeria as a part of its plans to grow in Africa and Middle East.
With the introduction of the company’s operations in the region, Nigerian territory would become the first African region outside South Africa where Ford automobiles are manufactured. The Ranger is produced and supplied in different areas of the world with the exception of North America. The pickup’s sales have increased by 40% in 2014.
Ford news today disclosed that the pickup is built in Argentina and Thailand. Its truck would be developed in the Lagos state, which is 470 miles away from the Nigerian capital, Abuja. The automobile’s operations in the region would create jobs for 180 people.
The investment figure has not yet been revealed. The Nigerian plant would be a semi-knockdown facility that would receive components and auto-parts partially manufactured in South Africa. The automaker’s kit-assembling plant in the East African country has the potential to develop 5000 trucks annually.
Ford breaking news affirmed that the vehicle manufacturer is collaborating with a Ford dealer group known as Coscharis Motors Limited, whose president, Cosmas Maduka, has stated that this collaboration would let Nigeria move towards industrial development and create a significant opportunity towards the development of the automotive sector.
The Ranger is known as South Africa’s bestselling automobile and the North American organization views Nigeria as a priority market in the Sub-Saharan African region. The huge automobile is supplied to more than 145 markets and 24 African countries.
Ford’s President and CEO of Sub-Saharan African region, Jeff Nemeth, has stated, “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." He added, “We are committed to supporting Nigeria's developing automotive industry and economy.”
Market professionals believe that the introduction of organizational operations in the region would not only improve its reputation but also send an alert to the interests of its rivals. Ford’s officials should now plan to operate the established facility to expand in the highly competitive world.
The production of Ford Ranger in Nigeria opens the company to new markets, where the response of Nigerian people would consequently determine the fate of the vehicle. Mr. Nemeth remains positive and optimistic about the future prospects though.
