Ford over the recent years has managed to transform its image from being a stable low profile company to one of the most customer centric companies with many successful launches such as the Fiesta Classic, Figo and the EcoSport. The company plans to launch 8 new cars by 2015 and one of these cars is expected to be a small car that would cater to the mass market segment. Ford realises the potential growth in this segment and is planning a viable launch for the same.
The next generation Ford Figo will be showcased at the 2014 Auto Expo and will go on sale in India in the second half of next year. However Ford might not discontinue the current Figo, re-positioning it and keeping both the models on sale to attract a wider audience. The next generation Figo was unveiled in concept guise in the form of the 2015 Ford Ka concept last month and the vehicle does look very upmarket. It will be loaded with features to attract people in the premium hatchback space.
The EcoSport has been overwhelmingly successful in India with waiting periods extending to 9 months for some variants. Ford is looking for opportunities to increase the production capacity of the same. Figo is the only car that the company sells in the volume-driven small car segment in both petrol and diesel versions. The company follows the “One Ford” policy that ensures regional specialty products are completely avoided and the concepts revealed if produced will make way to the markets across the globe.
Ford has so far not committed to a specific timeframe with regard to the launch of this new small car. It can be safely assumed that it would be one of the 4 new cars due by 2015 from the company apart from the 4 cars that have already been launched. Before the launch of this mass segment small car, Ford has to increase its production capacities to avoid long waiting periods. The EcoSport has nearly 30,000 pending bookings while the company currently produces only 4000-6000 units a month. Ford seem to have been figuring out its options for mass production and is certainly being tight-lipped about the same rather coming out in the open about its plans.
