Detroit-based Ford Motor is planning to turn India into an export hub for its flagship model Figo. The car maker will also add more sales and service facilities to bolster its presence in the country and introduce eight models by 2015.
“At present, we are exporting Figo from India to five foreign markets — Bahrain, Kenya, Mexico, Nepal, and South Africa. Further, we are considering including overseas markets such as North Africa, Caribbean Islands, Central Asia and more,” said Nigel E. Wark, executive director (marketing, sales and service), Ford India.
“We are planning to export roughly 20 per cent of our total production of Figo in the next year,” he said. Last year, Ford produced about 84,000 units in India, and 80 per cent of the total sales were of the Figo. The car maker invested $500 million to expand its production capacity in Chennai to 2 lakh units.
Ford has also invested $72 million to expand its powertrain facility in Chennai. The car maker is planning to add more sales and service points.
“We are increasing our dealership network to 173 across 102 cities within the next couple of years. This will include a mix of service centres and sales points in the ratio of 3:2,” said Wark. Meanwhile, the car maker plans to introduce eight models in the country by 2015, the first of which will be the new variant of the sedan Fiesta.
“For our upcoming products the focus will be more on the diesel variants, but we shall continue to produce petrol engines as well,” Wark said. Ford today flagged off its Bharat Yatra roadshow from Calcutta to promote the Figo.