Ford Ranger PHEV: the 1000th Prototype Out of Melbourne Facility

In a major win for Aussie engineering, the 1000th prototype vehicle has just rolled off the line at Ford’s New Model Programs (NMP) facility in Campbellfield, Melbourne. This significant milestone? A Ford Ranger PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) – the first electrified prototype to emerge from this historic site. Many feared that with the end of manufacturing, development would also cease so it is encouraging to see those fears unrealised.

NMP, formerly known as Plant 2, has been a hub of innovation since the 1970s, and the recent focus on electrified vehicles shows Ford Australia is keeping pace with the global shift towards sustainable transport. Located near Ford Australia’s Product Development Centre and Design Centre, NMP has become a key player in bespoke, hand-built prototypes that support Ford’s global vehicle launches. And what better symbol of progress than the 1000th prototype being the Ranger PHEV?

Vince Ciocca, Plant Manager at NMP, summed it up nicely: “It’s fitting that the Ranger PHEV is the 1000th prototype for NMP. It shows how Ford remains at the cutting edge of local vehicle development and is putting Australian skills and workers on a global stage.”

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Ford’s Campbellfield facility might have started out making trucks like the Bronco and F-Series for emergency services, but it has evolved into a workshop for precision craftsmanship. Back in the day, this was the first Australian manufacturing plant to use robots. Now, it’s home to highly skilled teams building everything from the Ford Capri to the AU Falcon – and, more recently, the Australian-exclusive supercharged Ford Mustang R-Spec in collaboration with Herrod Performance.

For the Ranger PHEV project, the team had to level up with EV certification to handle the new challenges of hand-building an electrified prototype. The expertise honed over decades has positioned Ford Australia as a leader in global vehicle development, with their engineering and design work influencing Ranger models sold across 180 countries.

Beyond just cars, the NMP team stepped up during the pandemic, switching gears to produce face shields during the PPE shortage, proving once again that this is no ordinary facility.

The Ranger PHEV, a key player in Ford’s electrification strategy, will officially debut at 5:40 PM AEST on Monday, September 16, at the IAA Transportation show in Hanover, Germany. Expect more details to drop then, but for now, Australia can take a bow – this milestone marks another proud chapter in Ford’s local legacy.

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