Detroit 2017: Ford Ranger Is Going Back To USA In 2019, Bronco Going Overseas

The current generation Ford Ranger is primarily sold in the Asia-Ocenia and Latin American region. Most of the world’s supply of the Ranger come from either Thailand or Argentina, but despite wearing an American Ford brand, the Ranger is not sold in USA.

In fact, the current T6 generation Ranger was actually developed in Australia. In the past, Ford did sold the Ranger in the US until 2011 but despite the similar name, it’s completely unrelated to the Ranger that were sold on our side of the world.

At the on-going 2017 North America International Auto Show in Detroit, Ford announced that Ranger will be making a return to USA in 2019, and that it will be manufactured at Ford’s assembly plant in Michigan.

Although Ford did not specifically mention it, but given the current One Ford strategy pursued by President and CEO Mark Fields, the US-market Ranger will likely be similar to the Ranger that’s sold elsewhere, with specific trims and headlamps to meet the requirements of the US market. The current T6 generation Ford Ranger was first launched in 2011.

It also means that the current generation Ford Ranger is likely to retire in 2019, as Ford is unlikely to launch a product that’s already well into its model life to an important new market like the USA.

The Ranger’s planned assembly in Michigan will be joined by the Ford Bronco in 2020, another nameplate making a return. Previously a mostly US-only model, Ford confirmed that the new generation Bronco will introduced as a global vehicle. The last Ford Bronco was made in 1996.

Ford did not elaborate any further regarding the Bronco’s target overseas markets but it’s hard to see how will the Bronco fit into Ford’s SUV line-up in this region, which already comprises of the EcoSport, Kuga and Everest.

“We’ve heard our customers loud and clear. They want a new generation of vehicles that are incredibly capable yet fun to drive,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford’s president of The Americas. “Ranger is for truck buyers who want an affordable, functional, rugged and maneuverable pickup that’s Built Ford Tough. Bronco will be a no-compromise midsize 4x4 utility for thrill seekers who want to venture way beyond the city.”