South Africa remains an important manufacturing and export platform for Ford Motor Company, says executive chairperson Bill Ford.
However, he adds that other countries on the continent are “becoming interesting”, and that the US carmaker is casting its net wider for possible manufacturing locations. This is no zero-sum game, though, where one country loses and the other one wins.
Should Ford sales grow further in Africa, the continent will be able to host an increasing number of assembly plants.
Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa assembles the Ford Ranger in Pretoria, exporting the pick-up to around 150 countries, including a number of African destinations.
Bill Ford confirms that Ford is considering Nigeria as a possible production hub.
“We are looking closely at that market, determining the best way to participate.”
He adds that Ford is not yet ready to make an announcement on the matter.
Ford Middle East and Africa president Jim Benintende notes that Ford is in talks with the Nigerian government about the content of its new automotive policy.
He says the new Middle East and Africa business unit, formed last year, is still finding its feet on the continent.
Ford is still working out which countries require more dealerships, which offer the opportunity to increase sales, and which countries will be best suited to local manufacture.
Ford has “great aspirations for this region”, with its rising economic growth and growing youth population, adds Bill Ford.
Nigeria recently hiked duties on new imported vehicles in an effort to stimulate local production.
Nissan has already opened an assembly plant in the West African country in response to the policy, with a number of other carmakers also mulling local production.
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Venter attended a media round table held in Dubai in November, hosted by Ford.