Filed under: Trucks/Pickups, Plants/Manufacturing, Ford click above for more images of the current Ranger sold outside the US While recent times haven't been rosy for Ford here in the States, business is much better for the Dearborn, MI automaker overseas. To keep blue skies in foreign markets, Ford is ponying up $209 million in South Africa for both a new truck plant and diesel engine plant that will produce the replacement for the automaker's overseas-only Thailand-sourced Ranger. Neither the truck nor its diesel engine will reach our shores, but both will be available in many markets abroad. Part of the big investment will cover training existing employees, and eventually adding 500 valuable jobs by 2011. It's good to see that Ford is committed to investing money in markets where growth is happening. In fact, happy go lucky CEO Allen Mulally went so far to say that he expects Ford will one day achieve two thirds of its global sales outside our proud borders. Nevertheless, we wonder what the reasons are now that this new Ranger could not have been developed with the North American market also in mind. Our current Ranger pickup continues to wilt on the vine, and we pester automakers for a truly small pickup (diesel, please) that can do a little bit of work while not punishing the earth in its wake. [Source: Detroit News via Ford] Gallery: 2007 Ford Ranger (outside US) Continue reading Ford to invest $209m in South Africa for new Ranger pickup Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments More...
I don't think thats a Ford at all. That looks like a re-badged Nissan with some pannel updates. See: Nissan Navara Even the rear window in the cab door is identical in shape...
