"Go Further is Ford's brand promise and the name of product events it has held in Australia, Amsterdam and Barcelona. The South African Go Further event was the first hosted on the African continent.
Nearly a thousand attendees included media, stakeholders, suppliers and VIPs when Jeff Nemeth, president and CEO for the Sub Saharan Region, outlined the company's vision for driving growth in existing markets on the continent as well as entering new ones.
"South Africa remains our engine of growth for the continent and, moving forward, Sub-Saharan Africa will be a key market for Ford," said Nemeth. "Our vision is to become the first choice for mobility in Africa."
He also announced that 17 vehicles will be launched or refreshed, including the new Focus, Fusion, Ranger XL-Plus, Transit and Tourneo Connect - which was on show for the first time at the Go Further event.
But the biggest thrill of all was the long-awaited glimpse at what the Mustang will have to offer for South Africans when it gets introduced in 2015.
The exciting looking muscle car will be available with both an EcoBoost engine as well as its hallmark V8 powertrain, will go on sale in South Africa and SSA markets next year.
"The Mustang is out of the stable and here in Africa," says Nemeth. "The One Ford plan means that we can finally bring a global Mustang to our local fans. This vehicle is incredibly special to us; it shows our local fans and customers that we are committed to bringing in the best Ford has to offer while also celebrating the brand's rich heritage."
Prices and full specifications will be available closer to the launch date.
"The 'One Ford' philosophy of a global company building and designing cars for a global audience continues to be the driving force behind the brand. Go Further has provided us with a unique opportunity to share a taste of what's to come for Ford in the Sub Saharan Africa region in the near future. We hope that everyone in attendance today is as excited as we are about what's to come in the coming months and years," Nemeth concluded.
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The Pony car's out of the stable and in Africa. Moray Callum, vice president of Design at Ford Motor Company introduces the Mustang.
ARTICLE: ANICA KRUGER
