Ford India will launch eight new vehicles by the middle of the decade as it moves to rapidly expand its presence in the fast growing Indian car market. Although the company hasn’t mentioned which cars it plans to launch, we feel the new Fiesta, Mondeo, Focus, Ka, S-Max could be some of them. The company is also planning to launch a small car which will be positioned against the likes of the Maruti Alto and Hyundai Santro. Ford India will also export locally produced Ford Figo to 50 new markets, including Mexico, North Africa and the Middle East starting next year. Ford has been exporting the Figo to South Africa since May 2010. Ford India also exports the Ford Fiesta (branded as Ikon) and diesel powertrains to South Africa, as well as 1.4- and 1.6-litre petrol engines to Thailand.
“We have big plans for India and for this region. As we have seen from the spectacular early success of the Ford Figo, more and more Indian consumers appreciate the fuel efficient, economical, high quality, safe, and fun-to-drive vehicles that Ford offers. By the middle of this decade we will introduce eight new vehicles to India from our global platforms, in segments appropriate for this market. This is part of our ‘better plan’ to bring more and more vehicles from our vast global portfolio to India and other markets in Asia Pacific and Africa.,” Joe Hinrichs, president of Ford Asia Pacific and Africa said.
