The Ford Struandale Engine Plant commenced production of the new generation diesel engines that are set to power the new Ford Ranger Raptor and selected Ranger and Everest models that will be launched in the first half of 2019.
Assembled on an all-new high-tech assembly line, the start of production for the new engine programme marks an important milestone for the Port Elizabeth facility, which opened its doors in 1964 and has produced over 3.4-million engines to date.
“With the launch of the new diesel engines, the Struandale Engine Plant embarks on a historic new journey, as it almost doubles our combined installed capacity to 250 000 units for our two engine programmes,” says John Cameron, Plant Manager of the Struandale Engine Plant.
As part of Ford’s 2017 investment of over R3-billion in its South African operations, the plant’s new assembly line has an installed capacity to produce up to 120 000 engines per year. The new engine programme starts off with low-volume production for the remainder of this year, then begins ramping up from early 2019.
The new assembly line will produce a total of eight derivatives of the new engines, including the advanced 157kW / 500Nm Bi-Turbo unit. All of these engines will be supplied to Ford’s Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria for installation in selected new Ford Ranger and Everest models and of course, the highly anticipated Ford Ranger Raptor. Ford’s local vehicle production supports domestic sales along with 148 export markets globally.
