South Africa helped Ford enter the world market?

Few may realise it, but sources tell me that South Africa was the first country outside of North America to which the Ford Motor Company exported its cars. Ford today remains a strong brand in South Africa even though most of the vehicles sold here are far removed from the huge American-style V8s (like the Ford Fairlane in the photo) that we became familiar with decades ago.

I'm sure that the sentiment of the question stated above is a little over-estimated - and I'd have to concede that the sale to South African Arthur Youldon back in 1903 probably played little role in Henry Ford's success abroad. :)