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CHENNAI: Ford is set to vow
the Indian motown later this year with a global car,
completely designed and developed in Australia, that will be
first launched in India before any other market. Its plant
near Chennai will become the export hub for the model, which
is a totally new car in Ford’s stable world-wide.
Code named ‘B376’, the new car is likely to be positioned as
an entry level ‘D’ segment model in India and help it bridge
the wide gap between the Ikon, its offering in the Indian ‘C’
segment and the Mondeo in the ‘E’ segment. The new car will
be taking on the likes of the high-end Honda City and
Chevorlet Optra.
“It is not the Ford Focus nor something that’s built on the
Fiesta platform. It’s a totally new car, which will be wider
than the Ikon and looking more attractive,” sources privy to
the development process told ET. “To be launched in both
petrol and diesel variants, it is likely to carry a price tag
of Rs 7-9 lakh,” they added.
It will be launched with a high localised content. “While the
petrol engine will be sourced from within the country, the
diesel engines are to be imported,” they pointed out.
At present, the car is being extensively test driven, under
cover, in various parts of the country. It is set to hit the
Indian roads sometime during November or December, ‘05 and it
may well be a Christmas gift from Ford in India, which is
establishing a separate assembly line for the same.
When contacted, Vinay K Piparsania, vice-president—marketing,
sales & service and external affairs, Ford India agreed that
Ford is in the process of developing a new car for the Indian
market. However, he declined to reveal product specifics nor
price range, citing competitive reasons.
“It is an India specific product and tests are on for the new
car in various Indian regions,” he said. “Whatever product
that we bring in, it will be right for the Indian market like
the Ikon and Endeavour,” he pointed out.
Ford, Piparsania said, follows a very highly disciplined and
structured evaluation and validation process for any new
product, so that it is right for the target market. “Even the
dashboard of the new car has been designed, keeping in mind
the Indian customer. Almost all Ikon vendors have been
sounded off for supplies to the new car,” sources in Ford
vendor community said.
As for exports, India is tipped to be the manufacturing hub
for the new car for several countries, may be even to
Australia, where it has been completely designed. “We look at
export opportunities for any product. But, the first step is
always to create a strong domestic presence,” Piparsania
said.
Piparsania recalled the success of Ikon, which was launched
specifically for the Indian market. “Given the success of
Ikon, in both the domestic as well as the export markets,
such opportunities could be there for future products, too,”
he observed.
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