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Ford Will Build Ranger Pickups in Nigeria

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At Go Further South Africa 2015, Ford South Africa President and CEO Jeff Nemeth (left) and Coscharis Motors Limited President Dr. Cosmas Maduka (right) announced a new manufacturing facility in Nigeria to assemble the best-selling Ford Ranger.

From left to right: Ford South Africa President and CEO Jeff Nemeth, Coscharis Motors Limited President Dr. Cosmas Maduka, and the new Ford Ranger

Ford announced today in Johannesburg, South Africa, that its new assembly facility in Ikeja—in the Lagos State just outside of the Nigerian capital city of Abuja—will be responsible for production of its new Ranger pickup truck. It was revealed that production will begin sometime in the fourth quarter of 2015, and that Ford is partnering with Coscharis Motors Limited in the endeavor.

This development makes Nigeria the first African country not located in South Africa to host the production of Ford vehicles.

“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. “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.”

The new and improved Ford Ranger

The new and improved Ford Ranger

The Ford Ranger has been South Africa’s best-selling vehicle through the first half of 2015, and an updated version that offers improved styling and new features will be released later this year.

Ford says that it will send experienced employees to Nigeria to help implement its One Ford plan and assure that everything goes off without a hitch.