Engineering News Senior Deputy Editor Irma Venter tells Creamer Media's Chanel de Bruyn about the progress Ford South Africa is making at its Pretoria plant in preparation for the start of production of the next-generation Ranger bakkie, as well as about how German car manufacturer BMW has prioritised production at its South African plant, in Rosslyn, as the global semi-conductor (computer chip) shortage continues to impact on vehicle manufacturers across the world. She also gives some insight into what South Africa needs to do to successfully participate in the global battery supply chain for battery electric and hybrid vehicles.