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The Chances of an Electric Version of the Ford Ranger EV Decrease Every Minute, Although the Brand is Still Delaying the Project.
The company’s CFO, John Lawler, declined to speculate on a timeline for the Ford Ranger EV but offered some general hints about the importance of the Ranger and EVs for Ford‘s international markets.
What The Company Says About The Launch Of The Ford Ranger EV
Lawler told the media at a press conference ahead of the Detroit Auto Show that the Ranger and its Everest-derived wagon are international sales strategies for the company. He also noted that Thailand, where the Ranger is built, is establishing itself as a global manufacturing hub for electric vehicles.
“Thailand will be a manufacturing hub for zero-emission vehicles. As these changes unfold globally, we will be part of them. You will see this coming from Ford”, he said.
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Suzuki sells an “economical family minivan” with 7 seats cheaper than Chevrolet Spin, Citroën Aircross, and Caoa Chery Tiggo 8 in Brazil; for about R$ 47,000 in conversion without taxes, the Ertiga has a 1.5 engine, manual or automatic transmission, CNG option, a trunk of up to 803 liters, and a family package that Brazil doesn’t have, but India does.
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Mitsubishi sells a “minivan with the soul of an SUV” with 7 seats cheaper than Chevrolet Spin, Citroën Aircross, and Caoa Chery Tiggo 8 in Brazil; for about R$ 76,000 in conversion without taxes, the Xpander has a 1.5 engine, manual or CVT transmission, 220 mm ground clearance, and a robust family package that Brazilians don’t have, but Indonesia does.
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Japan and Mercosur may reach an agreement to lower the cost of cars and auto parts, with manufacturers like Toyota, Honda, and Nissan coming into focus.
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Volkswagen is preparing an SUV derived from the new Amarok to compete with the Toyota SW4 and Haval H9, utilize the Argentine Pacheco factory, and transform a pickup into a more profitable family of products.
“The Ranger is a big opportunity for us and a cornerstone”, he said. The Ranger and Everest wagons are “very important to us” and present interesting opportunities for the future, he said. “There’s a lot of potential.
So, whether it’s Ford Ranger EV or other possibilities that bring and expand, maybe globally, we’ll do that. So, watch this space”, he said. He also suggested that a decision should be made sooner rather than later.
“The market is at different speeds in terms of EV adoption, but we also know that it’s an advantage for us to be first or close to a pioneer. That’s a lesson I think we will take away, but there’s nothing to announce at the moment, yes”, he said.
At the time of the launch of the current Ranger, Ford engineers said that the platform was designed to accommodate electrification. Lawler said the company has no intention of leaving the right-hand drive market.
Ford Plans To Change The Steering Wheel Of The F150 In Australia
Earlier this year, Ford announced plans to convert the F150 to right-hand drive in Australia. The engineering company RMA Automotive was contracted to “remanufacture” the F-150 in Australia, an extensive process that required more work than just repositioning the steering wheel and adding a new front panel.
Dianne Craig, president of Ford International Markets, said that there is room for this relationship with other niche products. “I think this opportunity and being creative with RMA, you know, can really give us some opportunities. We’ll see. I think the F150 mod with right-hand drive is great. A good example of what we can do.”
Lawler said that the recent strong profitability of the region means that there are more opportunities to direct resources to new projects. “We’re doing some things, but we need to keep delivering and leveraging the market”, he said.
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