Ford is to add 800 new jobs at its two plants in South Africa plants from September as the company ramps up production in the country.
It said it will add a second shift to its Silverton plant, in Pretoria, where the Ranger pick-up is assembled, and a third shift at its pick-up diesel-engine plant, in Port Elizabeth.
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Ford South Africa president and chief executive officer Jeff Nemeth said: “In order to meet continued strong demand in South Africa and abroad, we are adding shifts to our operations, creating jobs and confirming our commitment to South Africa.”
The carmaker exports the Ranger to 148 countries from South Africa, mostly in Africa and Europe.
As from 2011, Ford’s multivehicle, low-volume assembly programme, with limited exports, was replaced with the Ranger as its single production focus. Capacity has since increase from 32,000 vehicles a year in 2010 to 110,000.
Nemeth said: “We have invested significantly to transform our operations. Creating new jobs is incredibly empowering and helps make a difference in the communities where we have operations.”
