Ford’s century-long history in South Africa is inextricably linked to the city of Port Elizabeth (now known as Gqeberha) – after all, it’s where Ford Motor Company of South Africa was founded in 1923. Some 41 years later, Henry Ford II officially opened the Struandale Engine Plant. With an investment of R8 million in the new facility at the time, Ford was the first motor company to manufacture engines locally, and it has played a central role in Ford’s manufacturing and export operations ever since.
At the end of August 2023, the Struandale Engine Plant produced its four-millionth engine – a 2.0-litre four-cylinder Bi-Turbo diesel engine for the locally built Ford Ranger. This significant milestone coincides with the 300,000th 2.0-litre Single Turbo/Bi-Turbo diesel engine produced at Struandale since this program was launched in 2018.
The Struandale Engine Plant also produces the 2.2L and 3.2L Duratorq TDCi engines that were introduced in 2011, as well as the new 3.0L V6 Diesel engine that powers the range-topping models in the new Ranger line-up, with production commencing in 2022 following a R600-million investment. To date, the Struandale plant has produced 11 different engine types, starting in 1964 with the 1.7L and 2.0L V4, the much-loved Essex V6, as well as the 1.3L and 1.6L Kent four-cylinder engines.
One of its most successful programs was the component machining and assembly of the RoCam engine, starting with the 1.6-litre version in 1998. Production for this engine family concluded on 1,346,919 units when the program ended in 2012. The RoCam engines were also exported to numerous countries, including Argentina, Brazil, China, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Russia, and Venezuela.
Interestingly, the one-million engine mark was reached in 23 years (1987), with the two-millionth unit following 19 years later in 2006. With the significant investments and expanded production for the RoCam and Duratorq TDCi engine programs accelerating the plant’s output, it reached three million engines eight years later in 2014.
