GMC major partner Deakin University and Ford Australia unveiled the Ford Ranger Super Duty Fire Response Unit at the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC) annual conference in Melbourne during August. This project demonstrates the impact of industry and research collaboration. Designed and engineered in Australia, the custom-built vehicle explores how trained first responders and critical equipment could reach urban incidents sooner, ahead of a traditional firefighting appliance.
Built on a Ranger Super Duty Super Cab with a 4,500kg factory GVM, the unit features dual high-flow and high-pressure pumps, plus a generator-free solar-charging system developed with Zeliox Australia and New Zealand. Certified upfitter XL Service Bodies completed the build.
The project also showcases Australian advanced manufacturing, bringing together local vehicle engineering, specialist body fabrication, renewable-energy technology and emergency-equipment integration to turn research into a practical, field-ready solution.
The initiative extends Deakin and Ford’s 40-year research and development partnership and highlights how academia and industry can combine expertise to address real-world challenges and strengthen emergency response capability.