Automotive producer Ford Motor Com- pany of Southern Africa (FMCSA) says it has “wrapped up an exceptional 2015”, with December sales of 6 345 vehicles bringing the total units sold to 78 471 for the year – the highest to date for the brand in South Africa.

Despite the overall vehicle market sales declining in the past year, compared with 2014, FMCSA achieved 10.4% growth for the year, driven by the company’s new model roll-out, the company states. This contributed to an overall market share of 14.2% for 2015.

According to the figures released by the National Association of Automobile Manufac-turers of South Africa, aggregate new-vehicle sales declined by 4.1% in December and ove- rall for 2015.

“Notwithstanding the generally negative trends . . . last year, 2015 was our busiest year in terms of new-model launches. We introduced ten all-new and refreshed products onto the local market,” says FMCSA sales GM Gerhard Herselman.

These include the launch of the new 2016 Ford Ranger in October.

The Ranger emerged as the best-selling vehicle in December. Sales of 2 914 vehicles for the month contributed to a year-on-year growth of 18.1%. The vehicle is exported to 148 markets across Africa, Europe and the Middle East; in September 2015, the Silverton plant, in Pretoria, produced its 250 000th Ranger.

“Our push to deliver our most comprehensive and up-to-date line-up clearly paid dividends and is reflected in our growth throughout the year. The fact that Ford claimed second-best- selling brand through the dealer channel for 2015 proves that our products are being exceptionally well received by the buying public,” Herselman says.

The Ranger received the ‘Best One-Ton Single Cab Light Commercial Vehicle Brand’ award, with a segment-best result and gold award, and earned silver in the ‘Double Cab’ category at the Ipsos South Africa 2015 Product Quality Awards.

Testing Focus
In line with the new 2016 Ranger’s launch, FMCSA has improved specific targets in its stringent quality-standards tests at the plant to ensure that every Ranger meets the Ford group’s international standards, FMCSA plant manager Mark Shkoukani highlights.

For example, the plant improved the targets/standards of the air-leakage tests for the Ranger to meet the new model’s requirements and levels of noiselessness.

“FMCSA continues to improve its targets to reach the next level of quality and meet customer demands pertaining to the vehicles,” he adds.

Other key durability and quality tests at the plant range include, but are not limited to, static quality inspection tests (such as door slamming), Ford Customer Product Audits, as well as dynamic driving, off-the-road and rough-road or -terrain tests.

All Rangers produced at the Silverton plant undergo a rough-road test.

Shkoukani explains that the vehicles, on a sampling basis, are also tested in a controlled rough-road cham- ber at the plant, where they are placed on hydraulically operated posters that simulate tough terrain conditions.

“Further, the Ranger undergoes a series of weather-resistance testing to ensure that it is suited to . . . the various markets to which it is exported,” he says.

At the weather testing stations worldwide, the Rangers, also based on the sampling of one vehicle produced every hour, undergo a 20-minute water test.

All Rangers produced at the Silverton plant are subjected to a five-minute water test for any potential leaks.

While all vehicles are quality-tested in ambient temperature conditions at the plant, which can exceed 40 °C, they are also subjected to subzero temperatures in an extreme-temperature room.

“In the industrial sector, there are varying conditions and tough terrains that make it crucial for the vehicles used to be adaptable and durable,” Shkoukani concludes.