Ford EcoSport SUV launched at a starting price of Rs 5.59 lakh

US auto major Ford launched one of the most awaited cars of the year, the Ford EcoSport, at a starting price of Rs. 5.59 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

The Ford EcoSport will be available with three engine options -- the 1-litre EcoBoost petrol, 1.5-litre Ti-VCT petrol, and the 1.5-litre TDCi diesel. The 1.5 Ti-VCT will have the option of a six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox (same as the one in the Fiesta) while the rest of the variants will sport a five-speed manual.

The EcoSport will be available in seven colours and 38 accessories.

The compact SUV will take on Mahindra & Mahindra's Quanto, Maruti Suzuki's Ertiga, Renault Duster and it will also try to wean away premium hatchback Hyundai i20 and prospective compact sedan customers of Maruti Suzuki Dzire and Honda Amaze.

Ford launches new Figo at Rs. 3.85 lakh

Ford India, which launched a variant of its popular small car Figo, said it expects the sagging car demand to get a boost during the forthcoming festive season.

"It's a competitive market. Due to high inflation consumer sentiment is down. We will start to see a turnaround hopefully with the festive season," Ford India president and managing director Michael Boneham said.

"We will be seeing a lot of sales, I hope. The order book is looking quite encouraging," he added.

With the new Figo, priced at Rs. 3,84,999 for the petrol, and Rs. 4,81,999 for diesel (ex-showroom Delhi), the company said that it will stop production of the old Figo. The car maker had reported 8.29 per cent decline in sales in September at 9,418 units.

Stating that growth has been flat in the recent past, he said: "Remember we are all used to the massive growth two-and-half-years ago, we had growth of 30 per cent year-on-year. That is not sustainable. I think a 10-15 per cent growth is what we need to see. We are looking at the long-term. We are confident that by 2020, this will be our third largest market," he said.

He further said Figo sales are likely to improve with better macroeconomic environment and claimed that year after year the Figo sales have been growing by 10 per cent. On the new plant in Gujarat, where the company has invested about $1 billion to build a new manufacturing and engine plant, he said: "We are on track with construction. I went there two weeks ago and was very pleased. We are going to have 3,000 people on site. The first vehicle and engine are scheduled to come in 2014."

Ford currently exports to 35 countries from its Chennai facility, and is also looking at 15 new markets for exports.

"We are looking at the North African hub and the other developing markets for exports now," he said.

Ford Plans 8 New Models to Drive Sales in Growing Indian Market

Ford Motor Company will launch eight new vehicles in India by the middle of the decade as its plan to rapidly expand its presence in the fast growing market. Joe Hinrichs, president of Ford Asia Pacific and Africa (APA), made the announcement today during a keynote speech titled ‘Managing Growth – Evolving Market Dynamics’ at the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) Conference in New Delhi.

“We have big plans for India and for this region,” Hinrichs said. “As we have seen from the spectacular early success of the Ford Figo, more and more Indian consumers appreciate the fuel efficient, economical, high quality, safe, and fun-to-drive vehicles that Ford offers. By the middle of this decade we will introduce eight new vehicles to India from our global platforms, in segments appropriate for this market. This is part of our ‘better plan’ to bring more and more vehicles from our vast global portfolio to India and other markets in Asia Pacific and Africa.”

Hinrichs’ remarks at the SIAM conference focused on strategies for managing change, specifically the impact of rising demand and increasing capacity on the value chain. He elaborated saying that, “Introducing eight new vehicles by the middle of the decade is an ambitious plan that will have tremendous impact on our manufacturing operations, supply chain, dealers and employees. As part of our better plan for India, we are working today to make sure the value chain is ready for the demands we will place on it in the years to come.”

Expanding capacity creates particular challenges for suppliers, which are responsible for a large part of a vehicle, and requires new approaches. Hinrich further explained that by 2012, more than 70% of the vehicles sold under the Ford brand globally will be built off 15 core platforms. By bringing suppliers into the development process earlier we can ultimately generate more profit for the supply chain.

The Figo has already made its impression on the people in India and having already accumulated a fan following, this announcement will make Ford lovers jump with joy. With eight new cars lined up for launch in the next decade, all eyes will be on the bait that Ford India throws out to its customers.