Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd

Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) builds and sells Ford vehicles in the region. FMCSA’s main assembly plant in Silverton, Pretoria, opened in 1967 and now produces the Ford Ranger bakkie for South African customers and for export to more than 100 markets, which makes Silverton one of South Africa’s most important vehicle plants.

Registered name

Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd

Type

Private company (vehicle manufacturing)

Fields funded

Final-year study in key fields leading to Ford’s graduate trainee programme

Website

ford.co.za

About this page’s sources

Ford South Africa’s website blocked BursariesAfrica’s research tools on 15 September 2026, so this profile relies on a provider record checked in August 2026 and on BursariesAfrica’s earlier guide to the Ford bursary. Confirm current details on Ford South Africa’s careers pages.

A bursary for students near the finish line

The FMCSA Ford bursary targets final-year students in key fields of study, according to BursariesAfrica’s earlier guide. Rather than funding a whole degree from first year, Ford helps talented students complete their final year and gives them a pathway into Ford’s graduate trainee programme.

That design has advantages for both sides. Ford can judge applicants on several years of university results, and students who are already close to graduating gain a clear route into a job at a major manufacturer.

Ford South Africa also supports artisan training relevant to automotive manufacturing, according to the provider record, which gives students without university plans another way into the industry.

How to research Ford opportunities

Visit Ford South Africa’s careers pages in a normal browser and look for bursary, graduate trainee and apprenticeship adverts. Our Ford bursary guide has not been refreshed with 2027 dates, so check which fields Ford currently lists and when applications close.

Learn about the Silverton plant before applying. Building a bakkie for more than 100 export markets requires engineers, quality specialists, logistics planners and IT staff, and a final-year student who can explain where their skills fit on a vehicle assembly line gives Ford a strong reason to choose them.

Ask Ford whether bursars must join the graduate trainee programme and where trainees usually work, since Ford also operates other South African facilities.

The Ranger’s export success means Silverton works to international quality standards set by Ford globally, so graduates gain experience that is recognised across the automotive industry.

See our mechanical engineering bursaries page for other automotive funders.