Ford Australia has officially launched its Ford Pro Convertor program, in which Ford-certified ‘convertors’ will carry out more complex chassis and component upgrades to the Blue Oval brand’s commercial vehicles, with official factory backing.
The Ford Ranger is the primary focus for the time being, but the program is expected to be eventually extended to include the entire Ford commercial vehicle range, including the mid-size Transit Custom and large Transit vans, and the F-150 pickup.
Ford Pro Convertor has been announced ahead of the launch of the first Ford Ranger Super Duty, which is due in showrooms early next year and will bring more capability, more towing capacity, a higher gross vehicle mass (GVM) and therefore more opportunity for aftermarket modification.
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The hardcore, work-focused Ranger Super Duty is ripe for custom upgrades to suit job-specific tasks given its unique position in the Australian market.
The Ford Pro Convertor (FPC) program allows approved businesses which have been through a thorough, painstaking process to achieve official FPC status to fit approved components to the brand’s vehicles.
“We have meticulously selected and certified our Ford Pro Convertors, ensuring they meet Ford Pro Convertor standards and cater to the needs of a wide range of customers,” said Michael Elias, Ford Australia’s general manager of fleet.
The FPC program was designed to reduce headaches between Ford and its dealers when it come to fitting custom and often complex parts beyond trays, bull bars or other components – particularly in relation to large fleet customers, for which fitment delays can significantly impact business.
Each FPC location offers specific Ford-approved modifications and parts, which are covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty to match Ford’s new-vehicle warranty.
The finished vehicle is delivered to the customer, complete with upgrades, with a single invoice – reducing the back and forth between dealers, suppliers and customers.
Looking beyond Ford’s own statement, FPC also enables the automaker to monitor the quality of other aftermarket parts and, cleverly, to point customers towards its own FPC locations rather than non-approved alternatives.
By doing so, it could reduce the number of problematic situations where an aftermarket component has caused a potential warranty issue due to poor third-party fitment or otherwise.
Six FPCs have so far been established in specific locations across Australia, including Bull Motor Bodies, Duratray, Hidrive, MITS Alloy, Norweld, and XL Service Bodies.
The Ranger makes up the bulk of Ford Australia’s sales – accounting for around 60 per cent – and is currently the nation’s best-selling vehicle so far this year, after toppling the Toyota HiLux in 2023 and 2024.
Ford also has a partnership with Australian automotive aftermarket supplier ARB, in which customers can order parts from the ARB catalogue and have them fitted by a Ford dealership before their new vehicle is delivered.