Ford gears up for the launch of its luxury sedan in India
BY OUR AUTOMOBILES CORRESPONDENT
10 September, 2005: Ford India will launch a luxury sedan by the end of September, a top company aide has said. The name of the car, which will be first launched in India and later in other markets all over the world, has not been revealed.
This is part of the firm’s effort to boost its flat sales. The firm’s sales stand at 27,000, a figure which is considered flat. This is also the first time that the firm is having the world launch of a model in India. The company is investing $100 million in this project.
The new car will have both petrol and diesel versions, vice president, sales, marketing and service, V Sivaramakrishnan said at the occasion of the launch of the special edition of Ford Endeavour on Friday in New Delhi.
Ford Motors’ special edition of the Endeavour model has been priced between Rupees 14.5 lakh and 15.39 lakh (ex-showroom in New Delhi).
The company’s Chennai manufacturing centre will be the manufacturing hub of the new vehicle. The company hopes to increase the installed capacity of the new offering to 50,000 to back its expected demand.
The petrol engine will be assembled by Hindustan Motors, he said. The diesel version will initially have imported engines.
Sivaramakrishnan said the firm expects the sales to remain flat this year, citing the price hike of Ford Ikon as the reason for this. The price of Ford Ikon, the largest selling model of Ford India, had a four per cent hike in prices this year. Sivaramakrishnan said a spurt in input costs was behind the decision to hike price of Ikon. He also said the car industry is currently witnessing a slowdown. Another reason for its flat sales is the dull response to its last offering Ford Fusion.
But the carmaker is having grand plans for the next year. Sivaramakrishnan said the firm was eyeing cent percent sales growth next year, expecting a jolly ride on the strength of its new car.
BY OUR AUTOMOBILES CORRESPONDENT
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