Ford EcoSport Shipments Begin in India

CHENNAI, India, 17 June 2013 –Ford EcoSports are rolling off the production line in Chennai and being shipped to Ford dealers throughout India.

 

“The EcoSport looks fantastic,” said Ford president and Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally, who is in Chennai to congratulate the employees. “The Chennai team, together with our supplier partners, have done an outstanding job in delivering our customers a great looking, fuel efficient, safe, compact utility vehicle with impressive functionality and connectivity, at a very affordable price.”

 

Ford India’s Chennai facility is the third of five plants globally where the Ford EcoSport will be  produced. Currently it is being produced in Camacari, Brazil and  Chongqing, China (Changan Ford JV) and with production starting subsequently at Rayong, Thailand; and Tatarstan, Russia (Ford Sollers JV).

 

Ford EcoSport is an all-new urban compact SUV developed to serve customers looking for a vehicle that offers capability, value and fuel efficiency.  

 

“The EcoSport is a great example of Ford’s leadership in the global shift to fuel-efficient and functional utility vehicles,” said Dave Schoch, president of Ford Asia Pacific. “Utilities are helping drive our expansion throughout the region, particularly in emerging markets, where gowth in the utility segments is exploding.”

 

According to IHS Automotive, global small utility vehicle sales grew 154 percent between 2005 and 2012. In the coming years, small utilities sales are expected to increase by 51 percent globally. Ford small utility sales are projected to outpace the overall industry, according to IHS Automotive.

 

As part of the One Ford plan , the Ford EcoSport is based on the company’s B-platform, which also underpins its award-winning Fiesta. The company will produce two million vehicles annually on its B-platform by 2015.

Ford invested US$142 million to produce EcoSport at its Ford India manufacturing facility in Chennai.

 

The investment to expand capacity and improve production-line flexibility means the facility is now capable of producing six different types of car bodies on one line – including the Ford EcoSport. Ten variants of the EcoSport will be manufactured in Chennai for sale in India and export to several markets. The 21-month upgrade process has helped ramp up and bring additional flexibility to the Chennai plant.

 

‘’The excitement and anticipation around the EcoSport is unprecedented. We are extremely gratified with the response from Indian consumers for this vehicle. The dedicated men and women of Ford India are working very hard to exceed customer expectations, and our dealers have begun accepting EcoSport bookings,’’ said Joginder Singh, president and managing director of Ford India.

 

“With the expanding capability of our plant here in Chennai, we are enhancing our flexibility for the future,” said Dave Schoch, “Growth in Asia Pacific is the cornerstone of our global growth strategy, and having a strong base in India will help us to align production with demand and make the most of these market opportunities.”

 

In addition to growing its manufacturing footprint across Asia Pacific with seven new plants, Ford also is focused on improving the efficiency of its facilities and processes.

 

At the Ford India plant in Maraimalai Nagar, the expansion included the conversion of the stamping press line to higher-capacity, fully automatic production. The stamping process also incorporates advanced white-light scanner technology to measure panels and dies, a touchless inspection method that ensures high levels of accuracy while improving workplace safety.

 

The Chennai plant was also the first in the world to feature Ford’s advanced Three-Wet High Solids paint process, which delivers a superior finish with high gloss and depth of color, improved durability and better resistance against scratches and stone chips. By eliminating the need for oven baking between paint coats, the process also cuts down on carbon dioxide emissions and reduces the emissions of volatile organic compounds by up to 20 percent compared with standard paint processes.

 

“These advanced manufacturing technologies and methods show how we’re bringing our best global practices to India, building vehicles to the highest global standards and at the same time, we are making a positive impact on the community here in Chennai,” said Singh. “This reflects our deep commitment to India as a key part of our regional and global manufacturing network. We are delighted that Chennai-built EcoSports will be satisfying consumers not only in India, but also in several export markets, as part of our global growth strategy.”