COVID-related production problems prompt Poles to pick alternative Honker replacement
The Polish MoD is buying Ford Ranger XLT vehicles for the army to replace a fleet of Honker 4x4 off-road vehicles, after a previous deal with Nissan fell through.
A total of 485 vehicles will be provided with an option for 163 more. Deliveries will begin this year, for completion by 2022.
‘Originally, the contract assumed the purchase of Nissan Navara cars,’ the Polish government announced in a statement on 1 July.
‘However, in Spain, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the factory was closed, which was the only one to produce the vehicle model ordered by the Polish Army earlier on the European market.’
As finding a replacement for the Honkers is a priority for the MoD, it felt the need to find a new vendor quickly. The ministry was able to ‘reduce the unit price of the vehicle while maintaining the same quality and parameters’, the government stated.
It added that financial savings from the latest contract negotiations will be used to buy 13 additional vehicles, the government stated.
The Ford Ranger XLT (pictured) has similar technical specifications to the Nissan Navara, although it is slightly longer and has a larger trunk capacity.
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