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Carsales Staff26 Mar 2014
NEWS

Ford announces Everest production in Thailand

New seven-seater reaches a milestone on the road to Australia
Ford's Everest show car has made its Thai debut at the Bangkok motor show today, and the manufacturer has confirmed it will build the SUV in Thailand for global markets – likely including Australia. 
The Everest is a seven-seat SUV based on the Ranger, but with a stretched wheelbase and a coil-sprung live rear axle. Developed by the same Ford Australia design team responsible for the Ranger, the Everest was first seen in Sydney, back in August of last year. 
Everest's appearance at 'Go Further' in Sydney was a precursor to an announcement the SUV will go on sale in Australia by next year, but that announcement is not yet officially forthcoming. Although Ford's local PR team won't admit the Everest will go on sale here, that's the clearest conclusion to make in light of the show car's original debut in Sydney, and now this announcement of Thai production. Further supporting evidence includes the free trade agreement between Australia and Thailand, and the vehicle production Ford Australia already sources from the AAT plant in Thailand.
In production form, the Everest would go head to head with market rivals like Holden Colorado 7/Isuzu MU-X and old stagers like the Mitsubishi Pajero and Toyota Prado. 
"The Ford Everest Concept shows the bold new direction that we envision for a mid-size, seven-seat SUV that has been designed for ASEAN and global markets," Ford ASEAN president, Matt Bradley, was quoted saying in a press release today.
"Extending Ford's unsurpassed heritage of creating class-defining SUVs, the Everest Concept features a stunning design that hints at its toughness and exceptional capability. And, like the current Everest, the production version of this next-generation SUV will be built right here in Thailand."
The current Everest sold in Thailand – but not Australia – is also based on the Ranger pick-up, in the previous generation. Hence Bradley's final sentence.
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Written byCarsales Staff
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