The SUV will be exported to sub-Saharan African nations via waterway.
Ford has begun exports of South Africa built Everest (Ford Endeavour in India) to Kenya and neighbouring nations.
The Ford Everest is now manufactured in South Africa at the Silverton facility, and prior to this, the SUV was imported from Thailand. With an annual capacity of 10,000 units it joins Thailand, China and India as the global manufacturing hub of the Ranger-based SUV.
The Moondust Silver Ford Everest is the first unit to be exported and is headed towards Mombasa port in Kenya. This particular unit is powered by the 2.2 litre TDCi diesel mill with 4x4 capabilities.
Mr Ockert Berry, Vice President of Operations Middle East and Africa, said:
This is an exciting period for Ford Motor Company, as we’re now seeing the fruits of the more than R2.5-billion investment programme emerge with the first locally assembled Ford Everest models coming off the line and being shipped to their new owners across the region. The Silverton Assembly Plant is now operating as a fully-fledged two-vehicle production facility, assembling both the Everest and the Ranger for the domestic and export markets.
The next batch of Ford Everest will be heading to Cameroon, Tanzania and Madagascar later this month. Ford has confirmed that more countries will be added to this list.
