Ford Ranger made in China? Blue Oval announces popular dual-cab will go into production in China for domestic market

China will become one of the few countries in the world to build the Ford Ranger as the brand announced at the Shanghai Auto Show the popular dual-cab ute is set to go on sale there “soon”.

It will join the growing number of dual-cab utes in production and on sale in China including the GWM Cannon, LDV T60, and JAC T9, the latter of those on its way to Australia, to join the other two.

Likely to be built with slightly different specifications to international markets like Australia, the China-built Ranger would likely only be a domestic market product, unlikely to replace the version built in Thailand and sold internationally.

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The current generation Ranger is also built in South Africa and Vietnam. In the US, the Michigan plant responsible is yet to begin production of the new Ford Ranger.

Ford China’s CEO says the “Chinese market holds strategic significance for Ford”, and called the Ranger, among the other announcements and vehicles it brought to Shanghai, “products and experiences that resonate with Chinese customers”.

China will become one of the few countries in the world to build the Ford Ranger.

Ford will also debut a high-spec variant of the Explorer SUV called Timberline in China as well as confirming pricing for the large Ford Edge L SUV, a version built specifically with China in mind.

If Australians weren’t already jealous of some of the Blue Oval products offered in other markets, Ford also announced it would bring the Ford Bronco to China, though made no mention of local production.

For the Ranger, Ford hasn’t specified details or timing of Chinese production of launch, though the company does have a joint venture manufacturing plant with local company Changan Automobile, where it builds various models from the Explorer to the Mustang Mach-E.