Ford Motor has finally decided to return to India, albeit just to reopen its Chennai production unit, following a great deal of discussion on the internet. Having said that, the plant’s operations will only be resumed for export. The American brand stopped selling cars in India in 2021 as a result of poor sales and financial losses in the country’s highly competitive auto industry. That being said, Ford’s return became more widely discussed about in February 2022 when the firm was added to the government’s PLI incentive program for 20 brands. When the Ford Everest was sighted in India without any hiding, the excitement only grew stronger.
“This step aims to underscore our ongoing commitment to India as we intend to leverage the manufacturing expertise available in Tamil Nadu to serve new global markets,” stated Kay Hart, President of Ford International Markets Group, in a statement on this occasion.
Plans To Increase Staff In India
Ford presently employs 12,000 people in Chennai for its global operations, and within the next three years, it plans to add another 2,500–3,000 jobs. Additionally, Ford currently operates an engine production facility in Sanand, Gujarat, and it will stay open.
What Ford Had Said
Ford declared that it will introduce CBU (completely built unit) cars in India, including the Mustang sports coupe, Mustang Mach-e electric SUV, and potentially the Ranger pickup, after production in the country ended in 2021. Recent spying on Indian soil of the Ranger truck and the new Ford Everest (Endeavour SUV) leads us to suspect that Ford may be bringing these vehicles here shortly.
Will Ford Actually Sell Cars in India?
It appears that you may have to wait a little longer if you’re hoping to buy a Ford vehicle in India. To resume production in Chennai, Ford has sent a letter of intent (LOI) to the Tamil Nadu government. Following a meeting between senior Ford executives and M.K. Stalin, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, this declaration was made. Ford is anticipated to release additional information regarding the cars it intends to produce shortly.
It’s crucial to remember that the brand will only concentrate on exports for the time being. The carmaker hasn’t disclosed any intentions to start selling cars in India again just yet.
