BusinessLive reports that unprecedented international demand for the SA-built Ranger bakkie has enabled Ford Southern Africa to increase its workforce by more than 25%.  

The company is employing an additional 1,200 workers to man a third daily shift at its Silverton, Tshwane, vehicle assembly plant.  The move is expected to create a further 10,000 jobs at components and service suppliers.  The US-owned company currently employs about 4,300 people at Silverton and at an engine manufacturing plant in Port Elizabeth.  The new hires will take the number to 5,500.  Ford estimates that, including suppliers, its SA activities directly support about 60,000 jobs.  From early August, Silverton will build vehicles 24 hours a day from Monday to Thursday, with the option of a third Friday shift, as well to make up any production shortfalls.  Ranger is one of SA’s most popular vehicles, but two-thirds of production is exported to 148 markets around the world.

• Read the full original of David Furlonger’s report on the above at BusinessLive
• Read too, Ford, now accounting for 1% of GDP, introduces third shift at Silverton plant, at Engineering News

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