The Chennai plant commenced operations in 1999 and has a production capacity of 2 lakh vehicles and 3.40 lakh engines per year.
Having commenced operations in 1999, Ford India has produced its one millionth vehicle and engine at the Chennai Vehicle Assembly and Engine Plant (CVAEP). The millionth vehicle to roll off the assembly line was the very popular EcoSport and the achievement gives a glimpse of the American automaker’s journey in the Indian market. Ford’s Chennai plant has been fulfilling domestic market demands and more recently ventured into export operations as well.
Spread over 350 acres, the Chennai manufacturing facility houses an engine assembly plant that started commercial operations in 2008. The engine facility features Ford’s single flexible production line and is configured to produce both petrol and diesel engines simultaneously. The production has an installed capacity to assemble up to 2,00,000 vehicles and 3,40,000 engines every year.
Built with a cumulative investment of $1 billion (Rs. 6500 crores), the Chennai manufacturing facility started commercial production 16 years ago and today produces global offerings including the EcoSport, Fiesta and Endeavour. The EcoSport today is one the most awarded vehicles on sale in the country and was recently updated for the 2016 model year with the new light guide, Bronze paint scheme, auto headlamps and rain sensing wipers being added among other features.
In addition, Ford’s Chennai facility is designed to cause minimal damage to the environment with the implementation of several environment-friendly practices. The plant is one of Ford’s five zero-landfill facilities in the Asia Pacific region and ensures that the entire hazardous waste generated is either recycled or co-processed by cement industries. The automaker has also reduced its energy by 16 percent while water consumption is down by 30 percent in each car produced since 2009. The Ford plant completely recycles the water making it a zero discharge facility.
