A bit of regional automotive news now folks. Ford Motor Company has announced the official start of production for the Ford Ranger pickup truck at its Ford Thailand Manufacturing (FTM) facility to help meet extraordinary demand across the Asia Pacific region.
Currently the Ranger is being built at Ford’s joint-venture facility, AutoAlliance Thailand (AAT) in Rayong, This facility remains as Ford’s main production facility for Ranger in Asia Pacific. The AutoAlliance factory produces Ford and Mazda vehicles if you are curious.
With AAT forecasted to operate at or near maximum capacity in the very near future, Ford had invested an additional US$186 million in the FTM facility to allow for increased Ranger production.
Ford had upgraded the Ranger sometime last year and it has continued to be a sales success throughout Asia Pacific. The Ranger is Ford’s best-selling pickup truck in the Asia Pacific region. This includes being the best-selling pickup truck overall in New Zealand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Cambodia and Myanmar, as well as the second-best selling pickup in Australia, Malaysia and the Philippines. Full details are in the press release below.
On a similar note, we had a go in a Ford Ranger 3.2 Wildtrak recently and it was a very capable pickup truck which we thoroughly enjoyed testing. One of the most characterful pickup trucks you could buy in Malaysia today. A review on it should be out within the next few weeks. In the meantime, here are some photos of it.
PRESS RELEASE
Ford
Kicks Off Ranger Production at Ford Thailand Manufacturing
- Ford invested additional $186 million in FTM for incremental Ranger production volume to meet extraordinary customer demand across AP region
- Hirunya Suchinai, BOI Secretary-General, highlights Ford’s role in further strengthening Thailand’s position as a leading automotive manufacturing and export hub
BANGKOK,
Thailand, 7 October 2016
– Ford Motor Company announced the official start of production for
the segment-defining Ranger pickup truck at its Ford Thailand
Manufacturing (FTM) facility to help meet extraordinary demand across
the Asia Pacific region.
The
Ranger is also built at Ford’s joint-venture facility, AutoAlliance
Thailand (AAT), which remains
the company’s main production facility for Ranger in Asia Pacific.
With
AAT forecast to operate at or near maximum capacity for the
foreseeable future, Ford invested an additional US$186 million in the
FTM facility to allow for increased Ranger production.
The
Ranger
is Ford’s
best-selling pickup truck in the Asia Pacific region. This includes
being the best-selling pickup truck overall in New Zealand, Vietnam,
Taiwan, Cambodia and Myanmar, as well as the second-best selling
pickup in Australia, Malaysia and the Philippines.
As
the number three pickup truck in Thailand, the Ranger has continued
to increase segment share since the all-new Ranger was launched in
2011. This includes capturing its highest ever share of the segment
in August at more than 10 percent.
“The
incremental Ranger volume will allow us to meet strong customer
demand across the region for this Built
Ford Tough
truck,” said Mark Kaufman, president, Ford ASEAN. “Our additional
investment in FTM also underscores our long-term confidence in
Thailand, including the world-class quality being delivered by our
workforce.”
Ford
is one of the largest automotive investors in Thailand, having
invested a total of more than US$2.7 billion between its wholly-owned
and joint-venture manufacturing facilities, and currently employs
about 10,000 people in Thailand.
Hirunya
Suchinai, secretary-general, Thailand Board of Investment, said, “On
behalf of the Thailand Board of Investment, I would like to
congratulate Ford Motor Company on this auspicious occasion. Ford
continues to play an important role in the ongoing development of our
automotive industry, and their latest milestone will help further
strengthen Thailand’s position as a leading automotive
manufacturing and export hub in the region.”
Ford
launched the new Ranger last year, bringing a new level of comfort
and refinement to its segment without compromising on the rugged,
‘Built Ford Tough’ heritage.
With
an array of smart technologies combined with off-road capability and
fuel efficiency, the new Ranger continues to set the industry
benchmark in the pickup truck segment for design, comfort and
refinement.
The
Ford Ranger remains one of the most capable trucks in its class. With
a class-leading ability to wade through water up to 800 mm deep, and
with 230 mm of ground clearance. It is designed and engineered to
handle to most extreme terrains with ease.
The
smartest pick-up
The
Ranger boasts a full array of cutting-edge technology to help drivers
stay connected and in control.
- SYNC in-car connectivity systems allows drivers to use voice commands to control the car’s entertainment system and climate controls and features a user-friendly touchscreen with color-coded corners for easy menu navigation
- Front and Rear Park Assist uses sensors to detect obstacles and provide audible warnings when the vehicle approaches obstructions at low speeds, such as when parking. A rear-view camera gives a clear view behind the vehicle, giving greater confidence when parking and hitching up a trailer
- Electronic Stability Program with rollover mitigation and trailer sway control helps to keep the vehicle under control even in adverse conditions
- Other smart technologies on the new Ranger include:
- Hill Launch Assist, to help drivers confidently start off from a slope
- Hill Descent Control, which uses the traction control system to help drivers descend steep slopes at a constant speed
- Adaptive Load Control, which adjusts the Electronic Stability Control system based on vehicle load
- Emergency Brake Assistance, which provides additional pressure to the brake system to increase braking force when drivers apply the brakes quickly in an emergency situation
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