Ford Trucks enters Egyptian market

[kscarbel2]

Ford Trucks Press Release  /  November 21, 2017

Our heavy commercial vehicle brand Ford Trucks combines over 55 years of truck manufacturing experience in the global market with the ability to develop special products for different export markets.

Following investment in Morocco, Algeria and Ghana, Ford Trucks has now moved one step further in Africa with a new distributor in Cairo, the capital of Egypt.

Ford Trucks continues to strengthen and grow in the international market with dealers outside the country.

In cooperation with new partner Aljico MISR, Ford Trucks will launch the 1843t XHR, 3543t LR, 1833 DC, 3543d DC and 4143m DC models in Egypt.

These models have been specially designed in accordance with the hot and dusty conditions of the region.

Our new generation of Euro 6 Ford “Ecotorq” engines are produced at our powertrain plant in Eskisehir Inonu, Turkey, and are strategically important for our sustainable growth globally.

We are working on advanced technologies to offer products that will compete in all potential export markets, including Ford Otosan, not only in Turkey but in Europe and North America.

500 of the 1500 engineers at the Ford global truck R&D center are working to develop heavy commercial vehicles for international markets.

"As Ford trucks, we continue to expand our network of dealers in accordance with our goal of being in total 50 countries as of 2020,” says Ford Trucks International markets director Emrah Duman.

“The African market has a very important place in our global growth plans. Egypt has launched a new development move with investments in transportation and construction projects amounting to 14.4 billion euros. Furthermore, 90% of cargo transported in Egyptian are via heavy trucks. This reveals the magnitude of the heavy truck market in Egypt. Depending on the high potential of Egypt, we are planning to open 3 separate facilities in Egypt by the end of 2018 with Aljico Misr, one of the leading distributors of the region. With our ability to develop products for different export markets as Ford trucks, we offer our models to market the geographical and climatic conditions of Egypt. We believe that we are going to increase our market share in Africa with our new facilities and move our customer satisfaction in the region further. "

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[Red Horse]

Kevin,

"500 engineers of the 1500".... can this be? Or does "engineer" in Turkey mean anyone working on the line building trucks??  I find this hard to believe.

[kscarbel2]

Bob, engineer means engineer. Ford corporate designated Ford Otosan as the global design center for commercial trucks. They also manage design for Ford Brazil's product range, which is similar but ranges down to smaller GVWs and of course is locally adapted (homologated).

The two takeaways from his comments are there is greater emphasis at Ford Otosan in designing commercial trucks for all global markets, and North America is specifically mentioned.

[RoadwayR]

It's very interesting given that Ford Otosan is actively growing in Eastern Europe/Asia/North Africa but isn't in Western Europe or North America.  I guess this may signify that Ford is at least considering bringing the Cargo back to North America, probably in the lighter medium duty GVW range.  As for Brazil:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-21/ford-may-exit-some-south-american-auto-markets-jpmorgan-says

 

 

[kscarbel2]

1 hour ago, RoadwayR said:

It's very interesting given that Ford Otosan is actively growing in Eastern Europe/Asia/North Africa but isn't in Western Europe or North America.  I guess this may signify that Ford is at least considering bringing the Cargo back to North America, probably in the lighter medium duty GVW range.  As for Brazil:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-21/ford-may-exit-some-south-american-auto-markets-jpmorgan-says

https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/47464-ford-market-news/?page=4&tab=comments#comment-385639

[Maxidyne]

As Ford joins GM and FCA in their retreats to their home markets, perhaps Ford's Turkish partners, the Kocs, will buy out more of Ford's ROW operations? 

[Red Horse]

9 hours ago, kscarbel2 said:

Bob, engineer means engineer. Ford corporate designated Ford Otosan as the global design center for commercial trucks. They also manage design for Ford Brazil's product range, which is similar but ranges down to smaller GVWs and of course is locally adapted (homologated).

The two takeaways from his comments are there is greater emphasis at Ford Otosan in designing commercial trucks for all global markets, and North America is specifically mentioned.

 Thx-looking at it from a truly global perspective, I imagine then those numbers are realistic.  I wonder how many  US employees are employed there or even travel to   Turkey on a regular basis.   

And as a followup to Roadway R's comments, seems like the full range of LCF's offered in Brazil and the increased emphasis GM is placing on LCF's for US market makes sense that Ford is working on a return of that class to US.