A new assembly plant in Nigeria will supplement existing production operations in Argentina, South Africa and Thailand. The additional plant in Ikeja will receive partially-assembled pieces from South Africa, handling final assembly for vehicles sold locally in Nigeria.
Fans have been calling for the Ranger’s return to the US market since the last unit rolled off Ford’s St. Paul, Minnesota, assembly line in late 2011 as Ford narrowed its focus on the full-size F-150. Demand has since surged in global markets, jumping by 40 percent in 2014, according to a Detroit Free Press report.
The Blue Oval introduced an all-new Ranger for the 2015 model year (pictured), borrowing styling cues from its SUV stablemate, the Everest. The midsize pickup is available in several bodystyles, each providing a choice between a 2.5-liter Duratec gasoline engine or two diesel mills.
“Assembling Ford Ranger trucks in Africa’s largest economy is an important milestone in our Middle East and Africa growth plan,” Ford Middle East & Africa president Jim Benintende said in a statement.
The new Ranger will eventually make its way to 180 countries, however Ford has not signaled any intention to bring the midsize pickup back to the US where the F-150 still reigns supreme.
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