Ford Wooing Drivers in Africa, Middle East With New Cars Ford Motor Co. (F), the second largest U.S. automaker, is introducing 25 new models by 2016 in Africa and the Middle East, where it projects the driving age population will grow 31 percent by 2023 to 1.7 billion people. Ford is bringing its Mustang muscle car, Fusion family sedan and other models to the region, according to an e-mailed statement from the Dearborn, Michigan-based company. The new lineup is being introduced today at an event in Johannesburg, South Africa, to 1,000 employees, dealers, suppliers, government officials and media. The automaker projects industrywide auto sales in Africa will grow by 40 percent over the next six years to 2.1 million vehicles, said Jim Benintende, head of Ford’s operations in the Middle East and Africa. The company also is rolling out new technology such as its voice-activated Sync communications system and fuel-saving, turbo-charged engines. “We think there will be significant opportunity in the continent of Africa,” Benintende said in an interview. “It’s right at the takeoff curve. It’s really going to be growing over the next few years.” Ford said it will debut 17 new models in South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa over the next two years, including right-hand-drive versions of the Mustang, Fusion and Focus small car next year. The driving-age population in Africa will grow by 55 percent to 840 million people by 2023, from 540 million today, the automaker said.
Posted on: Thu, 17 Jul 2014 06:38:34 +0000
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