Ford ready to start assembling trucks in Nigeria

Leading automobile company, Ford, has disclosed its plans to begin assembling its best-selling pickup trucks in Nigeria by the fourth quarter of 2015.

Jeff Nemeth, president of Ford motor company’s business in sub-Saharan Africa, said the move was in line with the company’s expansion plan in Africa and the Middle East.

“Nigeria is a priority market for us in sub-Saharan Africa,” he told Reuters.

“Depending on how Nigeria develops over time, we are potentially looking at using our Nigerian plant to service West Africa.”

The Nigerian assembly plant which would be in partnership with Coscharis motors limited, a Ford dealer in Nigeria, is the first outside South Africa, where Ford produces the Ranger for 148 markets.

Nemeth went on to say the auto market in Africa’s largest economy has huge potential but retails only a small amount of new vehicles annually.

He added that the plant will have the capacity to assemble up to 5,000 units annually and that the vehicles will be sold in Nigeria.

“It would take between 1 to 2 months to take an order, build it and deliver it within the country. If you order from overseas it would take between 4 to 6 months,” he said.

In July, Volkswagen reopened its assembling plant in Nigeria after 20 years, with Renault-Nissan, and South Korea’s Kia motors also expressing their intent to do the same.

Ford produces 85,000 units each year in South Africa, which are sold across 24 African countries.