The head of Ford in South Africa says the brand “might have a surprise” up its sleeve, leading us to speculate that the Bronco Basecamp could be on the cards for Mzansi…
- Ladder-frame Bronco still forbidden fruit
- Ford’s local president hints at “surprise”
- Could Basecamp SUV be planned for SA?
While the head of Ford in South Africa has suggested the ladder-frame Bronco is still off the table for the local market, he added the Blue Oval brand “might have a surprise” up its sleeve. Does that mean the unibody Bronco Basecamp is firming for Mzansi?
Neale Hill, President of Ford Motor Company Africa, made the comments during a wide-ranging interview in Cars.co.za’s custom-built podcast booth at Naamsa’s SA Auto Week 2026 event in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal earlier in October.
As a reminder, after a 25-year pause, Ford revived the Bronco nameplate in 2020, though the 6th-generation version is still built exclusively in left-hand-drive form at the Dearborn-based automaker’s Michigan facility. That’s despite persistent rumours of right-hand-drive production being lined up for the retro-styled SUV.
We asked Hill whether the U725-series Bronco – which is interestingly based on the same T6 platform as the body-on-frame Ranger bakkie that’s built at the brand’s Silverton facility in Gauteng, right here in South Africa – was any closer to becoming available locally.
“I get asked this question all the time: ‘Where’s F-150 and where’s Bronco?’. When you’re selling 800 000 F-Series [units] in the US on an annual basis, why would you build 5 000 right-hand-drive F-150s for markets like Australia, New Zealand and South Africa?” Hill asked.
“So, that’s the challenge that we have both for the Bronco and for the F-150. But we might have a surprise up our sleeve – we’ll keep you posted,” he added, without going into further detail.
What might that surprise be? Well, as recently as September 2026, Ford confirmed that the Bronco Basecamp – a unibody 5-seater model manufactured in China by Ford’s joint-venture partner, Jiangling Motors Corporation (JMC) – would be introduced to fellow right-hand-drive market Australia in the second half of 2027.
We know the Bronco Basecamp is produced at JMC’s Nanchang facility, the same plant that supplies the current Territory to South Africa. In addition, it’s worth noting Ford already holds the local trademark rights to both the “Bronco” and “Basecamp” badges, with the registration of the latter having taken place in May 2022. So, the door certainly looks open for a local introduction.
Measuring 5 025 mm from bumper to bumper, the Chinese-market Bronco Basecamp is some 85 mm longer than the ladder-frame Everest. It’s currently produced in both fully electric guise and range-extended electric vehicle (REEV) form, with the latter powertrain locked in for Australia.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Is the Ford Bronco Basecamp coming to South Africa?
A: While Ford Motor Company Southern Africa has not officially confirmed the Bronco Basecamp, President Neale Hill hinted at a potential “surprise”, and the local registration of both “Bronco” and “Basecamp” trademarks paves the way for a possible local arrival.
Q: How does the Ford Bronco Basecamp differ from the traditional US-built Bronco?
A: Unlike the body-on-frame, US-built Bronco, the Bronco Basecamp is a unibody crossover manufactured in China by Jiangling Motors Corporation (JMC).
Q: What are the powertrain specifications of the Ford Bronco Basecamp?
A: In China, the Bronco Basecamp REEV pairs a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol generator with dual electric motors and a battery pack, delivering up to 310 kW of total system output.
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Ryan Bubear
Having written about everything from sport and politics to crime, Ryan eventually settled on motoring. For well over 15 years, he's been penning articles – both online and in print – about the broader automotive industry, though he's particularly fascinated by vehicle-sales statistics. A freelance writer and editor, Ryan has owned a 1971 Austin Mini Mk3 for 20-plus years.
