)
The vehicle, which will be launched in eco-boost technology engine will offer better power and fuel economy in an one litre engine, said Joginder Singh, president and managing director, Ford India.
“We are on track to launch the vehicle, we are ready to go for the launch anytime this year,” he said. The compact SUV segment has been growing, despite difficult times and we are bringing a great product at a right time, said Singh.
Besides, catering to the domestic market, the product will be exported to the 37 countries, where Ford's small car Figo are being exported from the Maraimallai Nagar facility near Chennai. The company will also be exporting EcoSport to Europe.
Ford India is embarking on an accelerated export strategy with its new small car and engines to be exported to markets across Asia Pacific and Africa.
Singh said, with Gujarat facility expected to go on stream next year, Ford India's combined manufacturing (both in Chennai and Gujarat) capacity would be 4.40 lakh cars a year, of which 22-25% will be exported. Similarly, 40% of the engines manufactured in India will be exported.
Established in 1995, Ford India, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company, has announced plans to invest more than $2 billion in India to expand its manufacturing facilities and sales and service networks.
Ford India's manufacturing facility at Maraimalai Nagar, near Chennai, which produces Ford Figo, Ford Classic, Ford Endeavour and the All-New Fiesta.
As part of its global expansion, Ford Motor Company recently announced plans to build an integrated manufacturing facility in Sanand in Gujarat state with an investment of around $1 billion.
This integrated facility will have stamping, body, paint and assembly operations for vehicle manufacturing, and machining and assembly operations for engine manufacturing, and will add almost 5,000 people to its current workforce of more than 10,000.
Ford has also expanded its powertrain facility in Chennai to further support its sales and export growth plans in India. With the expansion completed in July 2012, the engine plant’s annual production capacity has increased from 2,50,000 to 3,40,000 units per year.
Asked whether the new SUV EcoSport will be impacted to the Finance Minister's announcement in the recent Budget to increase excise duty from 27% to 30%, Singh said, "The product will not come under the proposal, due to various factors including ground breaking clearance. Our experts are working on the proposal".
