The first-ever Ford Ranger PHEV (plug-in hybrid) model debuted back in September 2023, giving fans of the mid-size pickup that reside in certain global markets an electrified powertrain option. Since then, it’s been unclear what markets the Ranger PHEV will be sold in, outside of places like Australia, Europe, New Zealand, and The Netherlands, though as Ford Authority reported last week, that list won’t include the U.S. Now, production of the all-new Ford Ranger PHEV is officially underway.
The Ford Ranger PHEV has entered full-scale production at the Silverton Assembly plant in South Africa, which will soon begin exporting the new electrified pickup to other markets. Silverton has undergone a massive transformation in recent years amid multiple investments by the automaker, and is now capable of churning out 200,000 vehicles each year – including around 200 Ranger PHEVs daily. Europe will be the main export market for the Ford Ranger PHEV – which is exclusively produced at Silverton – but it will also be shipping to Australia and New Zealand in smaller quantities.
The Ford Ranger PHEV is built on a brand new assembly line at Silverton specifically designed for plug-in hybrids, and the plant can churn out 62,000 battery packs annually, too. That facility is among the first to separate low voltage, vacuum leak, and high voltage testing for enhanced production quality and safety, while the adjacent Tshwane Automotive SEZ has added sub-assembly lines for PHEV chassis and component integration. Finally, Ford’s Silverton stamping plant contains new dies for the Ranger’s PHEV charging port, the body shop gained a new bed floor line, and the TCF (trim, chassis, and final assembly) line was modified to integrate various PHEV components, too.
“The addition of the high-tech new Ranger PHEV to our production portfolio is an important milestone in Ford’s manufacturing history in South Africa,” said Ockert Berry, VP Operations, Ford South Africa. “This makes the Silverton Manufacturing Plant central to Ford’s Ranger sustainability efforts, as we are the global source for both the new plug-in hybrid and the established Ranger line-up exported to over 100 markets.”
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