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Port Elizabeth - Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa's (FMCSA) RoCam engine plant in Port Elizabeth has powered into the South American market by securing a contract to ship engines to Brazil, Mexico and Venezuela, commencing February 2005.
This announcement was made by Deborah Coleman, chief executive officer and group managing director of the FMCSA.
It follows less than a month after the news that South African RoCam engines would be fitted to the StreetKa roadster and SportKa in Europe.
Exports from the engine plant - which has a production capacity of 240 000 units per year - were originally planned for India, and have since expanded into Russia, China, Europe and now South America.
South Africa and Brazil are the only suppliers of the RoCam engine.
Ford, which has invested over R1bn in the RoCam plant over the past five years, is spending a further R4m on the Port Elizabeth plant in order to supply six derivatives of the engine to South America.
According to Coleman, exports to the South American markets are expected to reach 125 000 units a year by 2009.
Port Elizabeth will be the single source of RoCam engines to Mexico and Venezuela, while exports to Brazil will supplement those made in Ford's Taubate RoCam plant in that country.
Port Elizabeth is also the only manufacturer of RoCam engines for Europe.
Ford's decision to build the RoCam in Port Elizabeth initiated a number of major investments by suppliers such as Murray and Roberts Foundries, Visteon, and Bel-Essex.
"The South American order has also created new opportunities for components investors in South Africa and, with this additional capacity, it becomes even more attractive to be part of the RoCam supply chain," Coleman said.