Ford’s Africa-made Ranger hits a bumpy road

From the newsletter

US automaker Ford has only exported 385 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) since December 2024. The Ranger is the only Ford model with a PHEV drivetrain and is exclusively made in South Africa. It has received mixed reviews due to its high price and relatively limited feature set, especially compared to value-oriented Chinese alternatives.

• The low demand for the Ranger PHEV highlights the stiff competition in the new energy vehicle market. Chinese PHEVs like the BYD Shark and GWM Cannon Alpha are cheaper and offer more features than the Ranger PHEV.  

• Demand for PHEVs is surging in Africa, with sales outpacing those of fully electric vehicles in some regions, though the overall market share remains small.

More details