Chennai:
Global automobile major Ford Motor Company has got a long term growth plans in India as it expands its Chennai plant to make India the global hub for Ford’s compact sports utility vehicles.
Addressing a press conference here on Monday, Alan Mulally, president and chief executive officer said that Ford EcoSports is rolling off the production line in Chennai and will be shipped to Ford dealers throughout India and abroad.
Although the growth of Indian economy has been hit but Mullally says Ford has a long term plan and neither the falling rupee nor the Lok Sabha elections will have any bearing on its decision. Interestingly, Ford is targeting the ‘B’ segment or compact car platform chasis. “We plan to double the production facility in the next two years,” said Mullaly, who was here to flag off the company’s new sports utility vehicle (SUV) EcoSport at its Indian plant near here.
Ford India’s Chennai facility is the third of five plants globally where the Ford EcoSport will be produced. Currently, it is being produced in Camacari, Brazil, and Chongqing, China. Production is also being expected to start in Rayong, Thailand and Tatarstan, Russia. Interestingly, Ford has invested $142 million to produce EcoSport at its plant in Chennai. This also comes at a time when Ford is bringing down production in line with the demand in Europe.
The production line in Chennai is now capable of producing six different car bodies on one line and ten variants of EcoSport. He also ruled out that the company is losing out to the competition and said it will be bring out more models. He said the company is reaping the benefits of its investments made in the Asia Pacific region.
Mullaly also said that Ford is bringing down its production levels in Europe as the demand for cars is down “We will take a couple of years for restructuring,” he said.
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