The Ford Ranger has done it again and made automotive history in the process! The Ford Ranger Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) was named the 2026/27 International Pick-up Award (IPUA) winner.
This marks the fourth time in 15 years that the Ranger family has claimed the top IPUA title, but this victory is extra special: it is the first time in history that a plug-in hybrid vehicle has earned this prestigious honor.
The achievement is a massive point of pride for our team at the Silverton Assembly Plant in South Africa, which is currently the exclusive global manufacturing site for the Ranger PHEV. Charleen Clarke, the sole South African jury member of the 23-strong International Van of the Year (IVOTY) and IPUA team and editorial director of FOCUS magazine , personally handed over the coveted trophy to Ockert Berry, celebrating the plant’s world-class Ranger production.
The win follows rigorous on- and off-road evaluations in Bulgaria by an international panel of esteemed automotive journalists. Judges praised the Ranger PHEV for delivering zero-emission driving capability and remarkable fuel efficiency without sacrificing the legendary power, towing, payload, and off-road capability Ranger owners expect.
Jarlath Sweeney, Chairman of the IVOTY and IPUA jury, added that the Ranger PHEV delivers "outstanding, class-leading performance with even greater efficiency and lower fuel costs for everyday journeys."
Hats off and congratulations to the entire Silverton Assembly Plant team and all our global product development colleagues who helped set a new benchmark for tough, electrified commercial vehicles!
