Ford drives into India for third time

NEW DELHI/CHENNAI: After withdrawing twice, Ford Motor Co is betting on India for a 3rd time. Ford stated on Friday that it plans to restart work on the Chennai plant to make vehicles which are initially aimed for exports. The corporate’s assertion didn’t disclose any fast plans for the home market, although it seen as a key purpose behind the choice to come back again once more.
Ford had refused to promote The Chennai manufacturing unit to Sajjan Jindal’s JSW group, regardless of superior negotiations
“Ford at this time introduced that it has submitted a letter of intent to the government of Tamil Nadu, confirming its intention to utilise the Chennai plant for manufacturing for exports. The announcement follows a gathering between Ford management and the chief minister of Tamil Nadu as a part of his go to to the US,” the corporate’s assertion stated.

TOI was the primary to report on Ford’s impending entry to India in its version dated August 3 this yr.
“We’re grateful for ongoing assist from the Tamil Nadu govt as we explored completely different choices for the Chennai plant,” stated Kay Hart, president, Ford Worldwide Markets Group. “This step goals to underscore our ongoing dedication to India as we intend to leverage the manufacturing experience out there in Tamil Nadu to serve new international markets,” the corporate stated, including that additional details about the kind of manufacturing and different particulars shall be disclosed in “due course”.
Ford, which had invested over $2.5 billion in India and tasted success with merchandise corresponding to Eco Sport mini-SUV and Figo small automotive earlier than quitting, now believes that Indian market and manufacturing right here will assist it navigate international enterprise as many markets within the West stagnate. Additionally, with China and Europe not being vital companies for the corporate, India is the place it’s pinning its hopes on. “More and more, the sensation is that it isn’t proper to remain out of India, particularly because the model remains to be well-known to potential consumers,” a supply stated.
Ford couldn’t construct a stable enterprise case within the nation, regardless of being current right here for over three a long time (it first entered in 1995). The corporate did enterprise as a solo entity, and likewise in partnership with Mahindra & Mahindra. Nonetheless, the JVs did not work on two events.
Having did not make any affect alone, the corporate had first introduced its exit in September 2021, earlier than making a re-entry in February 2022 when it bagged advantages underneath the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for EVs. Nonetheless, it quickly introduced a withdrawal in Might 2022, presumably discovering it extra viable to promote the factories than working a loss-making enterprise.