Ford India has officially signed an agreement with the Government of Gujarat to set up its latest manufacturing facility and engine plant over a 460-acre site.. With 7 new models to hit the road in the next 4 years, Ford has decided to hike its capacity significantly. The investment of Rs. 4,000 crore (approximately US$1 billion) is being doen in two facilities, which include stamping, body, paint and assembly operations for vehicle manufacturing, as well as machining and assembly operations for engine manufacturing. The vehicle manufacturing plant will have an initial annual capacity of 240,000 units, and the engine plant will have an initial annual capacity of 270,000 engines. Construction of both plants will begin later this year, with the first vehicle and engine scheduled to come off the line in 2014.
“Namaste Gujarat! We are delighted to announce that Ford’s newest vehicle manufacturing site will be here in Gujarat. Ford has very aggressive expansion plans in India and in Asia Pacific and Africa, and these two new plants will be important in realizing our growth strategy here in one of the most dynamic regions in the world,” Joe Hinrichs, president and CEO, Ford Asia Pacific and Africa, said.
