Another highlight of Ford South Africa is its presence in the agriculture sector. This is evidenced by the slew of Rangers and Transit vehicles outside, and the showing at events like Nampo is also a good indicator. You can check out our many Ford reviews here.
Related: Ford previews the new Tourneo and Transit Custom at Nampo
If you didn't know, Nampo is one of the largest agricultural exhibitions in the southern hemisphere. It's been around since the 1960s. It's so huge and popular that it has cemented itself in Bothaville, Free State, at a permanent location called Nampo Park.
Ford is one of the vehicle manufacturers of choice in agriculture, so it's a regular stand at the event. This year, three things were highlighted at the event.
Ford Pro Converter Programme
This is a Ford-approved vehicle conversion programme. It replaces the Qualified Vehicle Modifiers initiative, tailored to the commercial and industrial markets. The Pro Converter Programme takes Ford-Approved converters to carry vehicle modifications on select Ranger, Everest and Transit vehicles. These aren't fly-by-night conversions; they're high-quality conversions from big names like SVI and JavGro, to name a few. Some vehicles on display included a Refrigerated Transit Van, a Dropside Ranger (review coming soon) and an official Ford mobile vehicle servicing unit, which forms part of Ford's Family Promise. Other vehicle conversions can include armoured cars, emergency response vehicles, mining and construction support vehicles, to name a few.
Lead times generally range from 4-6 weeks but vary depending on the complexity of the conversion. Another big thing about the Pro Converter programme is that the process doesn't affect the vehicle's original warranty or service plan for the non-modified portions. You'll receive a homologation certificate upon completion, and the car is legally registered in its modified form. You can chat with your local Ford dealer for more information.
Ford Family Promise
This was a reminder of what family promise you get into when you buy a new Ford. We'll mention some of the highlights we thought were pretty nifty.
The ease of servicing your Ford includes features like online bookings, express service, service price calculators, and even mobile servicing with the aforementioned mobile servicing unit. This is all done in line with the Ford Protect Plans and other vehicle maintenance plans, as well as genuine Ford Parts and Motocraft spares.
The Collision Network removes confusion and uncertainty after an accident, retaining your vehicle's integrity. It also provides 24/7 roadside assistance.
To keep you on the road, there is a vehicle loan programme should your vehicle need to stay at a dealership overnight, and there's a pick-up and delivery service too.
Lastly, there are some other interesting bits, like the affordable tyre repair and replacements and even complimentary 4x4 training when you purchase a new Ford Ranger or Everest, which teaches you new skills and features on these vehicles.
Ford's Manufacturing Prowess
Amongst the Ford models on display was a Ranger 4x4 rolling chassis with thousands of components attached to see what goes into a Ranger. However, this display highlighted the figures surrounding Ford's manufacturing effort at its Silverton plant. The biggest ones to surprise you are Silverton's installed capacity which is 200 000 vehicles per annum which calculates to 720 cars per day over three shifts. To give you a local idea, according to the Lightstone Industry New Vehicle Sales Report for April 2025, on the Light Commercial end, Ford sold 1771 vehicles to the South African market and exported 6492 cars, with the Ranger taking the lion's share of those figures.
Was Nampo an excellent example of South Africa's agricultural strength, and showed how players like Ford contribute to this. The Pro Converter Programme is a solid offering; backing like Ford's Family Promise aids in this.
