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As Ford India works on readying its Sanand manufacturing plant, Nigel Harris, the newly appointed president of the company met the Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel today during his visit to the state.
A company spokesperson informed that it was a courtesy visit where Harris took the opportunity to meet the new chief minister of the state. “He was on a visit to the Sanand plant, and hence, he took this opportunity to meet the new CM in office and also thank the local government for its support to the company’s Gujarat project,” the official said.
He also added that work on the Sanand plant was very much on track and that it would be operational by the end of this year and the first vehicle should roll out of the plant by early 2015.
Ford India has invested close to $2 billion in India so far including its Chennai and Sanand facilities. The Sanand project cost is estimated to be around $ 1 billion, and the plant would employ around 5,000 people directly once completed. Ford’s plant in Sanand is located next to the Tata Motors’ Nano car plant and is spread across 460 acres.
Once operational the plant will have an initial capacity of 240,000 cars and 270,000 engines per annum.
Harris took charge as president of Ford India from February this year, after his predecessor Joginder Singh repatriated to the US as director, corporate strategy.
Harris had previously served as the vice president, sales and servicem, of Ford Asia Pacific, and in India he is responsible for managing and growing the integrated manufacturing operations of Ford India.
