Development of the Ford Ranger along with its SUV counterpart the Everest will stay based in Australia for at least one more generation.

Although Ford has not made an official announcement the message comes through clearly from senior product development leaders during the launch of the MY26.50 Ranger an updated version of the nation's top-selling vehicle for the past three years.

Ford is the sole manufacturer with the expertise and facilities to design engineer and fully develop a vehicle in Australia. The local operation serves as the global centre of excellence for the T6 ladder-frame platform that supports the Ranger Everest Bronco and the Volkswagen Amarok.

The prior two Ranger generations were created in Australia by more than 1000 designers and engineers covering the 2011 PX series and the current 2022 RA series. Ford has directed five billion dollars into local research and development over the past decade committing five hundred million dollars annually since ending local manufacturing in 2016.

Ford has not yet confirmed a new Ranger will be developed locally. Earlier this year CEO Jim Farley indicated during a visit that Australian product development could end without changes to the federal New Vehicle Efficiency Standard.

The rules impose penalties on brands selling high-emitting vehicles such as the diesel Ranger and Everest unless offset by lower-emitting models like electric vehicles.

At the MY26.50 Ranger launch Ford stated it will continue developing vehicles in Australia for the foreseeable future and noted it is already planning the next generation of the ute sold in at least 180 markets worldwide.

When asked about an all-electric Ranger Ford Australia's T6 platform director Mario Brandini ruled out an EV version during the current model's lifecycle but noted the team is consulting customers on needs and technology timing saying the existing product still has substantial life ahead.

Ford Australia marketing director Ambrose Henderson added that the 1500 local staff innovate daily on updates and future advancements to keep the vehicles at the forefront globally.

Ford maintains four main global Product Development Centers with Australian operations spread across four Victorian sites including the You Yangs Proving Ground with 24 percent of staff a Geelong R&D facility with 15 percent and Broadmeadows locations accounting for the remainder.

The You Yangs site originally built for Falcon testing now operates around the clock alongside teams in Dearborn Cologne and Nanjing.

In a statement Steve Crosby noted Australia's role as one of four global centres employing 1500 people including a 1000-strong product development team that creates vehicles from customer input with emphasis on safety and durability.

He highlighted the Ranger Super Duty as an example born from local fleet requirements for heavy towing that only the Australian team could deliver.

Over the past decade Ford has invested five billion dollars in local R&D to sustain sovereign capability for solving Australian-specific challenges.

Ford Australia has also produced executives who advanced to global roles including Jac Nasser Geoff Polites Trevor Worthington and Todd Willing.

Former global planning director Jim Baumbick described the Australian team as essential noting the Ranger originated here as a world-focused alternative to the F-150 with primary emphasis on Ranger development across 190 markets and a goal to become the top-selling midsize pickup.

Additional work supports the Asia Pacific region but Ranger remains the core focus.