Ford Ranger Will Return to the US in 2018

PEKIN, Ill. – There’s been a lot of complaining that Ford Motor Co. has the 2016 Ford Ranger in over 180 global markets, excluding the U.S., but Ford finally may have bent its ear to hear the complaints of midsize pickup drivers because the Ford Ranger will return to the U.S. in 2018, according to inside sources aware of Ford’s plans.

Ford is working with the United Auto Workers to build the Ranger at the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Mich. but before anything is set in stone the union and then Ford’s board of directors must agree to the contract’s contents.

The last Ranger manufactured in the U.S. rolled off the assembly line in 2011 at the Twin Cities Assembly Plant – now out of commission – in Minnesota. But that didn’t end production of the Ranger, which is now built in South Africa, Argentina, Thailand, and Nigeria.

If you’ve ever wondered why Ford doesn’t just import the Ranger, it’s because of a 25% tariff called the “chicken tax,” which, for Ford to recover the costs of importation, would hike up prices for American buyers. As you can imagine, a midsize truck wouldn’t sell well with a 25% price increase.

Right now Ford and the UAW are discussing whether or not the Ranger would fit in at the Michigan Assembly Plant, which employs 4,500 workers who build the C-Max and Focus. If the contract to build the Ranger in Michigan goes through, production of the C-Max and Focus would be moved to Mexico.

If the Ford Ranger returns to the U.S. in 2018, it would help the automaker clinch a berth in the competition for midsize truck sales. Ford’s competitors have already cleared a space for their products, including the Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, Toyota Tacoma, and Nissan Frontier. Inserting its Ranger back into the midsize truck segment would also help Ford meet the federal governments rising standards for fuel economy across fleets.

If you were as bummed as us when Ford ended production of the Ranger back in 2011, then news like this should have you out of your seat. We can’t wait to see the Ranger return in 2018, and we’ll always love the old models. Check out our inventory of used cars and trucks at our Morton area used car dealer to see if we have any in stock.

At Velde Ford, we are committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Feel free to visit our dealership, Velde Ford at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

Visit our website: VeldeFordPekin.com

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2016 Ford Ranger to be Built in Nigeria but not in US

PEKIN, Illi. – If you’ve been waiting for the day that Ford Motor Co. would bring back the Ranger midsize pickup truck, you might as well keep waiting. 

The 2016 Ford Ranger will be built in Nigeria but not in the U.S., which isn’t all that shocking considering 148 other global markets in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa already have their hands on this seemingly mythical machine. To give you an idea of just how elusive it has become, the last time a Ranger rolled of a U.S. assembly line was in St. Paul, Minn., on December 2011.

Ford’s decision to build the 2016 Ranger in Nigeria but not in the U.S. has everything to do with its expansion plan to exhibit a larger presence in the Middle East and Africa. According to Ford, Nigeria will be the first African country, with exception to South Africa, to produce Ford vehicles.

The 2016 Ranger will be assembled with body parts and components imported from South Africa. The new assembly plant is in Ikeja, a suburb of Lagos, and is expected to create 180 jobs that will help produce up to 5,000 vehicles annually that will be sold exclusively in Nigeria.

The 2016 Ranger was the best-selling vehicle in South Africa for the first half of 2015, and is capable of towing close to 8,000 pounds. It’s the perfect midsize pickup for making your way over rough terrains or simply driving through an urban area with more ease than a full-size pickup provides.

No wonder Americans want this truck back in the U.S. We’re just as jealous as you are of the countries whose people are bestowed with the magnificence of the 2016 Ford Range, but for now you can get behind the wheel of a 2015 Ford F-150 and soon a 2016 F-150 – We guarantee you’ll enjoy either model. We also have a great inventory of used cars and trucks at our Morton area used car dealer. As far as we know, there aren't any Ranger lurking in there, but you might want to check for yourself!

At Velde Automotive Group, we are committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Feel free to visit either of our dealerships, Velde Ford at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or Velde Cadillac Buick GMC is located at 2220 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

Visit our websites: VeldeGM.com and VeldeFordPekin.com

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5 Ways to Help Your Young Child Prepare to Go Back to School

PEKIN, Illi.– Summer still has plenty of sun and warmth for us to enjoy, but there’s no denying the season is coming to a close, along with the seemingly brief vacation from school that comes with it. The month of August can be a stressful time for you and your child as they prepare to head back to school.

However, there are ways you can help your child make a smooth transition from eating popsicles under the sun to learning times tables in a classroom. We thought these 5 ways to help your young child prepare to go back to school might make that transition a bit less rocky for you and your young child. Take a look:

1. Have a talk with your child about how ready they feel. It seems the most rational place to start when it comes to preparing your child to go back to school is to simply have a talk with them about how ready they are to adjust to a school routine. What subjects are they excited to learn? Are they nervous about anything? Do they know what friends will be in their classroom? Do they know who their teacher is? Ask questions that will make them consider what a school day entails so they can begin to adjust their mindset ahead of time.


2. Attend classroom or school orientations with your child. Not every school hosts orientations, but if they do at your child’s school it would be wise to attend one with them. This will reintroduce your child to the school’s atmosphere, and help them become familiar with the premises so they aren’t totally out of their element on the first day. This is especially helpful if your child is attending a new school for the first time.


3. Make buying school supplies fun for your child. Leading up to the first day of school, one of the events that might strike fear or anxiety into your child is dragging them to the store to purchase necessary school supplies for the semester. Some children may feel apprehensive about a trip like this because those items are associated with –– gulp –– learning, homework, and being away from home for 7–8 hours a day. However, you can make buying school supplies fun for your child. Give them some freedom to pick out the items they like, just make sure they stick to any guidelines that exist from the school.


4. Put your child back on a school schedule before school starts. This one could be the hardest to implement in the last weeks of summer, but it will definitely help you and your child adjust to the school year and make the transition easier. Start putting your child to bed earlier and waking them up earlier. Tell them they need to come in from playing outside a little earlier in the evening. Doing these things will help your child prepare for a school schedule that permits less playtime or staying up late. It will prepare them for a schedule that revolves more around homework, extracurricular activities, and getting more sleep for long days. 


5. Instill independence in your child. Anxiety due to being away from their parents is one of the tough issues kids face when they go back to school. To prevent anxiety in your child, it might be a good idea to instill some independence in them so they become used to being away from you. Let them pick out certain school supplies, as mentioned, or let them choose what they want for lunch on their first day of school.

We’ve all been there and know how tough it can be to start a new school year, especially if its your first time or if you're attending a new school. Hopefully these 5 ways to help your young child prepare to go back to school give you some ideas for what you can do to mitigate the anxiety and calm the nerves that your child may experience as summer vacation closes and school draws near.  

After you drop your child off at school this fall, remember to stop in at our Morton area used car dealer to get a quick oil change or have some auto service taken care of! At Velde Automotive Group, we are committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Feel free to visit either of our dealerships, Velde Ford at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or Velde Cadillac Buick GMC is located at 2220 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

Visit our websites: VeldeGM.com and VeldeFordPekin.com

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5 Fourth of July Desserts to Make

PEKIN, Illi.– Independence Day– more commonly referred to as the Fourth of July– is just around the bend. Saturday will be a day full of family and friends, grilling, fireworks and, wait something is missing. Oh, that’s right– patriotic desserts! Here are 5 Fourth of July Desserts to make, because you know how important sugar can be when you’re celebrating something like independence!

Burger Cupcakes

Too lazy to grill patties this year? That's no problem–

these burger cupcakes are essentially the same thing.

Patriotic Pretzel Bites

Pretzels, plus frosting, plus M&M's equals: 'MERICA!

No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Bites

 The perfect poppable food item! 

Make a bunch of these– they go quick.

Summer Dessert Tacos

 How great is it that you live in a country where

even the fruit is patriotic?

Chocolate Dipped Banana Split

You'll start singing the U.S. National Anthem

when you try one of these. 

This year, make the most of your Independence Day celebration. Try out one or more of these 5 Fourth of July desserts to make and remind your loved ones that they should feel proud to live in a country that makes room for creativity like this. An even better example of that creative freedom is Ford Motor Company, whose New Ford Cars and New Ford Trucks can be found at our Morton Area Ford Dealer! Stop by on your way to get dessert supplies and get an extra dose of American pride when you look at our inventory.

At Velde Automotive Group, we are committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Feel free to visit either of our dealerships, Velde Ford  at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or Velde Cadillac Buick GMC is located at 2220 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

Visit our websites: VeldeGM.com and VeldeFordPekin.com

Follow us on: Velde GM Facebook, Velde Ford Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Instagram

Ford Split-View Camera Technology Will Make You a Safer Driver

PEKIN, Illi.– We’ve all done it: You pull up to a stop sign, check both ways, but a bush on the corner obstructs your view– you proceed regardless. Thankfully, as you nose out into the intersection, you check again  and realize an oncoming car was this close to smashing into the side of your vehicle.

Anxiety and sighs of relief ensue after frightening incidents like this, along with the question, “Why haven’t any automakers developed solutions for drivers to see around hazardous objects?” At ease: Ford split-view camera technology will make you a safer driver from here on out.

Ford debuted the camera on the 2015 Edge and 2016 Explorer in the U.S. and China because it understands the importance of driver awareness. That’s why Ford wants all of its North American light passenger vehicles to have standard rear-view cameras by 2018, and the majority of its vehicles globally to have front cameras by 2020. 

Ford split-view camera technology will make you a safer driver because it uses real-time video feeds from 1-megapixel wide-angle lens camera located in your vehicle’s grille and tailgate. The cameras feed to a tri-panel display on your vehicle’s 8-inch screen that allows you to see around obstructions blocking your vision on either side or from straight on. Activate split-view, which turns off at 6.2 mph, to get a 180-degree view of the area in front of or behind your vehicle and notice any oncoming traffic or obstacles you would otherwise be unaware of.

Right now the 2016 F-150 has the most cameras– five– of any Ford vehicle, but the next Super Duty will contain the most advanced camera technology yet with seven camera, improving lane-keeping assistance and helping customers see better around their truck and trailer. Ford's camera technology is just one of the reasons we feel comfortable selling New Ford Cars and New Ford Trucks at our Ford Dealership Serving Morton, IL!

At Velde Automotive Group, we are committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Feel free to visit either of our dealerships, Velde Ford  at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or Velde Cadillac Buick GMC is located at 2220 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

Visit our websites: VeldeGM.com and VeldeFordPekin.com

Follow us on: Velde GM Facebook, Velde Ford Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Instagram