Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) is investing R3-billion ($220-million) in expanding Ranger production at its Silverton plant, in Pretoria.

The plant builds the Everest sports utility vehicle and the Ranger pick-up, with the latter exported to 148 markets.

The focus of the investment will be on increasing Ranger capacity in order to cater for growing demand from the local and export markets, a further improvement in quality and increased automisation, as well as enabling production of the Ranger Raptor, which will enter the South African market in 2019, says Ford Middle East and Africa operations VP Ockert Berry.

The purpose-built, desert-racing- inspired Raptor forms part of the Ford performance brand, with other members of the club being the well-known ST, RS and GT derivatives.

Berry says the Silverton plant will produce more than 100 000 units this year.

Current capacity at the plant is 100 000 units a year.

The R3-billion investment will see capacity increase to 167 000 units a year.

The changes to the plant should be in place in January, following a four-week shutdown over December.

The Silverton plant operates on a two-shift rotation, with a three-shift operation not currently on the table.

Employment is set to increase through the capacity expansion, notes Berry, although he can not yet quantify the number of people to be added to the Silverton payroll.

The newest investment from the US carmaker in its South African operations is an indication of Ford’s commitment to South Africa, notes FMCSA MD Dr Casper Kruger.

“The market response to our announcement that Ford will be introducing a Ranger Raptor has been absolutely phenomenal,” he adds.

“We are exceptionally proud to confirm that this highly anticipated performance model will be assembled in South Africa. “This is yet another fantastic achievement for our local team, and signals our ability to produce world-class products of the highest calibre.”

In the first ten months of the year, FMCSA Ranger exports from South Africa reached more than 46 000 units, with local sales at 27 048 units.

Ranger production at the Silverton plant started in 2011.