Auto ConneXion-Ford Launches 2026 Ranger Lineup in Malaysia, Opens New Parts Hub in Sabah

(From left) Vi Thim Juan, Managing Director of Retail and Distribution, Sime Motors; Thomas Dixon, Country Manager, Ford APDM; Turse Zuhair, Managing Director, Auto ConneXion; and Jeffrey Gan, Managing Director, Southeast Asia, Sime Motors at the official unveiling of the new Ford Ranger variants, marking a major expansion of Ford's Pick-up line-up in Malaysia. — (From left) Vi Thim Juan, Managing Director of Retail and Distribution, Sime Motors; Thomas Dixon, Country Manager, Ford APDM; Turse Zuhair, Managing Director, Auto ConneXion; and Jeffrey Gan, Managing Director, Southeast Asia, Sime Motors at the official unveiling of the new Ford Ranger variants, marking a major expansion of Ford’s Pick-up line-up in Malaysia.

Sime Darby Auto ConneXion-Ford launched an expanded Ford Ranger lineup on 23 July 2026 at 1 Utama Shopping Centre, introducing the 2026 Ranger Platinum, Ranger Sport and Ranger XL, as the pickup truck surpassed 24,000 units on Malaysian roads since its local debut in 2022.

Auto ConneXion-Ford, the sole distributor of Ford vehicles in Malaysia, said the milestone reflects the Next-Generation Ranger’s popularity in the country since it was introduced four years ago. The company is a subsidiary of Sime Motors, which also distributes other automotive brands in Malaysia.

“The Next-Generation Ford Ranger has undoubtedly become a true Malaysian favourite. With more than 24,000 vehicles on Malaysian roads, this demonstrates the trust and confidence customers have in the Ranger’s capabilities. This trust has been built on Ford’s relentless focus on quality, which was recently recognised when Ford was named the No.1 mainstream automotive brand in the 2026 J.D. Power U.S. Initial Quality Study. As customer expectations continue to evolve, we are expanding the Ranger family to offer vehicles that deliver the ideal balance of toughness, advanced technology and premium comfort. Through Ford’s Ready, Set, Ford philosophy, we aim to empower customers to feel ready for anything — whether it is supporting their businesses, connecting with family or pursuing their next adventure.”
Turse Zuhair, managing director of Auto ConneXion

Ford has been the world’s top-selling pickup manufacturer over the past decade, according to Auto ConneXion-Ford, with about 5.1 million Rangers sold across more than 180 markets over the last 20 years. The Ranger received the 2025 North American Truck of the Year award and remains the best-selling vehicle in Australia and New Zealand and the best-selling pickup for more than a decade in Vietnam and Europe, the company said.

In Malaysia, the Next-Generation Ranger has collected several industry awards, including the People’s Choice Award and Truck of the Year honours for the Ranger Platinum 2.0L Bi-Turbo Diesel at the 2024 MARii Car of the Year Awards. The Ranger WildTrak 3.0 V6 was named Pickup Truck of the Year at the 2025 edition of the same awards.

Sime Darby Auto ConneXion-Ford expands Ford Ranger line-up comprising the Ranger Platinum, Ranger Sport and Ranger XL, marking the next chapter in the evolution of Malaysia’s best-selling work and lifestyle pickup truck.

The Ranger XL is positioned as a work-oriented model for businesses and fleet operators. The Ranger Sport is aimed at buyers seeking what the company describes as everyday lifestyle use with performance, while the Ranger Platinum sits at the top of the lineup, combining refinement with off-road capability.

The Ranger Platinum is equipped with a 3.0-liter V6 turbo diesel engine producing 250PS at 3,250 rpm and 600 newton-meters of torque at 1,750 rpm, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The variant includes 20-inch alloy wheels, a Flexible Rack System, quilted leather-accented seats with heating and ventilation for the driver and front passenger, and a Bang & Olufsen eight-speaker sound system, according to Auto ConneXion-Ford.

The Ranger Sport is offered with either a 3.0-liter V6 turbo diesel or a 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine. The 3.0-liter variant comes with full-time four-wheel drive, while the 2.0-liter variant uses a part-time four-wheel-drive system. Both are fitted with 18-inch alloy wheels and a digital instrument cluster, the company said.

The Ranger XL is built around durability and practicality rather than the added features of the other two variants, according to Auto ConneXion-Ford, with six airbags and a cargo bed designed for daily commercial use.

Across the lineup, Ford said the Ranger offers up to 1,000 kilograms of payload capacity, up to 3,500 kilograms of towing capability and up to 800 millimeters of water-wading depth. Shared technology includes a 12-inch touchscreen display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, voice recognition, dual-zone climate control and up to four USB charging ports.

Separately, Auto ConneXion-Ford said it has established a new parts hub in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, which will begin phased operations on July 27. The facility, an extension of the company’s existing central parts hub in Shah Alam, Selangor, will carry an initial inventory of about 1,000 fast-moving genuine Ford and Motorcraft parts, the company said, with select fast-moving parts available for same-day delivery within the Kota Kinabalu area.

Auto ConneXion-Ford said the hub is intended to reduce parts lead times and support its dealer network across East Malaysia, which includes nine authorised sales and service touchpoints, comprising seven dealerships and two service-only centers, along with service support extended to communities in Kapit and Mukah, Sarawak. The company’s nationwide network includes 33 authorised dealer locations.

The expanded lineup is available for booking at Ford dealerships nationwide. Prices in Peninsular Malaysia, on the road and before insurance, start from RM205,888 for the Ranger Platinum, RM159,888 for the Ranger Sport 3.0L, RM145,888 for the Ranger Sport 2.0L and RM127,888 for the Ranger XL, according to Auto ConneXion-Ford. The company said customers who purchase the Ranger XL or Ranger Sport 2.0L by 31 August 2026 will receive a complimentary Ford dashcam, while purchases of the Ranger Sport 3.0L and Ranger Platinum come with a complimentary two-year extended service plan, subject to terms and conditions.

The three-variant structure gives Malaysian pickup buyers a clearer way to match a Ranger to their actual use case rather than choosing between broadly similar trims. A fleet operator prioritising uptime and running costs has a distinct option in the XL, separate from a buyer who wants the Ranger mainly for weekend use and daily driving, and separate again from someone cross-shopping the Platinum against more premium SUVs rather than other pickups. That segmentation may simplify the buying decision for first-time pickup owners who previously had to weigh which options and features were worth paying for within a single trim ladder.

The new East Malaysia parts hub is likely to matter most to existing and prospective owners outside the Klang Valley, where parts availability and turnaround time for repairs have historically been a bigger factor in ownership satisfaction than in more urbanised regions with denser dealer networks. Faster access to genuine parts in Sabah and Sarawak could reduce vehicle downtime for owners who rely on their trucks for work, though the practical impact will likely depend on how quickly the hub’s inventory expands beyond its initial stock of about 1,000 parts once phased operations begin.