, the 2019 Ford Ranger is here. And, apparently, it’s selling so fast right out of the gate that Ford has to add overtime shifts at Michigan Assembly Plant. Ford President of North America Kumar Galhotra said in a briefing on Wednesday that the automaker expects to […] "'Pin It")
Ford Adding ‘Massive Overtime’ to Meet 2019 Ranger Demand
After a full year of anticipation (and then some), the 2019 Ford Ranger is here. And, apparently, it’s selling so fast right out of the gate that Ford has to add overtime shifts at Michigan Assembly Plant.
Ford President of North America Kumar Galhotra said in a briefing on Wednesday that the automaker expects to sell 1,200 Ranger pickup trucks in its first month back on the market, and that upwards of 300,000 people have expressed strong interest in purchasing a Ranger down the line. These facts led to the decision to add overtime shifts as Michigan Assembly beginning next week.
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“Based on the orders coming in, and based on the hand-raisers, we think the demand’s going to be so strong, that starting in February our assembly plant will be going into massive overtime,” Galhotra said.
Ford declined to comment further on the addition of overtime when reached by Automotive News.
Production on the Ford Ranger began in October at Michigan Assembly, which will also build the next-generation Ford Bronco when it arrives in 2020-21. Ford converted the plant to accommodate body-on-frame production with an $850 million investment in 2017, effectively tolling the death knell for the now-discontinued Ford C-MAX and Focus.
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The 2019 Ford Ranger starts at $24,300 (not including destination and delivery, taxes, title, etc.) and goes up as high as $38,385 for the Ranger Lariat SuperCrew 4×4, effectively giving truck consumers a more affordable option if they’re feeling priced out of the ever-more-opulent F-150. Not only is the Ranger the most fuel-efficient gas-powered truck in the midsize pickup segment, but it also tops its class for gasoline torque, payload, and towing.
Photos: The 2019 Ford Ranger is Here
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- Photo: Ford
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- Photo: Ford
News Source: Automotive News (subscription required)
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