M a r k e t N e w s

Ford's sub-Saharan drive may benefit African plants

Posted on : Friday, 2nd October 2015

 As Ford's only manufacturing operation in the Middle East and Africa‚ Ford Southern Africa is in pole position to benefit from the group's decision to intensify marketing and production in sub-Saharan Africa‚ says Stephen Odell‚ president of Ford's European‚ Middle East and African operations. Ford has the capacity to increase it production in South Africa, particularly of the Ranger model. Ford has the capacity to increase it production in South Africa, particularly of the Ranger model. The South African-based subsidiary builds the Ranger pick-up at its Silverton assembly plant in Pretoria‚ and engines in Port Elizabeth.  Odell said: "When you look at the size of Silverton‚ you have to say there is capacity to source more from here."

 
Silverton‚ with an annual capacity for 110‚000 Rangers‚ expects to build up to 75‚000 this year‚ compared with 63‚000 last year. With about 65% of production going to 149 export destinations‚ and many of those forecasting market growth‚ Ford Southern Africa president Jeff Nemeth said prospects for increased production were good. Odell said that while it was too early to say where Ford would source vehicles for its sub-Saharan push‚ it is normal to supply a region from within that region. "I can't exclude the possibility of new products being built in South Africa," he said.
 
He was no more forthcoming on other possible African sites for vehicle or components production although Nigeria is known to be trying to woo multinational companies to help it set up a motor industry. Second biggest market in region
 
South Africa is Ford's second-biggest market in the Middle East and Africa region‚ after Saudi Arabia. MEA's president James Benintende said the establishment of the new division recognised the growing importance of its emerging economies. Ford sales in MEA countries are expected to grow from 200‚000 last year to 250‚000 this year. This is well short of numbers in established markets such as the US and Europe‚ where sales last year were 2.5m and 1.1m respectively. But Benintende said long-term growth prospects were excellent. "This is the final frontier" for Ford‚ he said.
 
In sub-Saharan Africa‚ it may take time for that growth to take hold. Odell suggested Ford may have to be patient for between 10 and 15 years for many of the region's economies to grow to the point that the region could realise its sales potential. However‚ Benintende summed up the uncertainty felt by multinational motor companies‚ which have waited decades for African markets to take off‚ when he said: "Like China‚ Africa might have exponential growth. Then again‚ it might not."
 
Nemeth said previously that for vehicle sales to take hold properly in sub-Saharan Africa‚ it would require the creation of an African free-trade area similar to those that have encouraged trade growth in Europe‚ North America and Asia. He added that Ford's recent success in South Africa - where sales grew 40% last year and are up 20% so far this year - gave it the confidence and momentum to expand its presence in the rest of Africa.

Source : www.bizcommunity.com
Featured Companies
  • KG INTERNATIONAL FZCO
  • MIDDLE EAST BATTERY COMPANY
  • DEERFOS
  • PINNACLE
  • dubaiexporters.com
  • J.K. Fenner Limited

Complete List  

Advertisers in previous issue:

  • Steelmate - The world leading manufacturer in mobile electronics industry
  • Cylinder heads
  • Kenya
  • China Jiangsu Dongxing Auto Decorations Co.,Ltd,established in 1989,the manufacturer of cabin and body parts for truck Mercedes-Benz, Volvo,Scania,Man,Iveco,Daf and Renault.
  • Exporters of Genuine & Non Geuine Parts for Japanese Cars.
  • Global Auto Parts is an Automotive Aftermarket spare parts wholesaler offering genuine quality aftermarket replacement parts for all makes and models of passenger cars, light commercials vehicles, trucks and trailers.
  • Mobile Crushing and Screening plant
  • GUANGZHOU YIFENG AUTO PARTS MANUFACTURING CO., LTD. is a professional manufacturer and distributor of automotive filters, mainly specializing in all kinds of oil filters, fuel filters and air filters.
  • Yellow stone diesel-One of the leading manufacturers of engine parts.
  • Changzhou Guoshi Vehicle Accessories Co.,Ltd. is proficient in vehicle spare parts manufacturing and has involved a lot of capital, time and resources to make us prominent in this industry.
  • Auto Parts
  • Fowlers Parts supply genuine original spare parts
  • We are producing six categories and nearly one thousand kinds and sizes of bias tyre, OTR tyre, radial tyre, Industrial tyre, agricultural tyre and solid tyre.
  • GARAGE 1 has been purchasing cars, trucks and jeep in order to recuperate esclusively top quality used complet engines, gearboxes and mechanicals parts.
  • Rolman World is one of the largest and most established distributors of bearings and related technical services in the Middle East and Africa.
  • Our corporation is an important motorcycle production base in southern China.
  • Tyre makers.
  • For European Trucks & Engine Parts.
  • DM is one of the leading manufacturer specialized in reflective material in the world, which is only one manufacturer that not only produce personal safety production but also produce traffic safety production in China.
  • Nordic Trailers Ltd we pride ourselves on importing and selling world leading car trailers from Respo.
  • Boston Garage Equipment Ltd is a leading suppliers of a superb range of vehicle workshop equipment.
  • Fuel Saver
  • Zhenjiang Huixiang Light&Electrical Co.,Ltd.), which located in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province of China, specialize in producing auto&motorcycle bulbs.
  • High quality spare parts for truks
  • Leading Dealers,Wholesalers & Retailers Specially For Nissan,Toyota & All Japanese Car Genuine Spare Parts.
Afrotrade International Marketing, Tel: +971-50-6285684
© 1998-2025 Afrotrade