Is Ford planning to come back to India – this time in a new avatar?

The carmaker said it was planning production of electric vehicles (EVs) in India for exports. However, it also said that there was a possibility to enter the domestic market too with EVs

PRAVASISAMWAD.COM

Iconic American car manufacturer Ford Motor Company, which stopped all its operations in India in September last year, recently got the approval from the Government of India for its proposal under the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for the automobile sector.

The carmaker said it was planning production of electric vehicles (EVs) in India for exports. However, it also said that there was a possibility to enter the domestic market too with EVs.

“As Ford leads customers through the global electric-vehicle revolution, we’re exploring the possibility of using a plant in India as an EV manufacturing base for exports. We don’t have anything additional to announce at this time and will have more to say about any potential project in the future,” the maker of the popular Ecosport and Endeavour said.

Ford had announced its plans to curtail manufacturing operations in India, with the option to retain the engine plant in Sanand to service its products in the country for the next five years

Regarding EVs in India, the carmaker said, “There is no specific discussions on this right now, but it is not out of the realm of future consideration. Ford also plans to serve customers in India with must-have iconic vehicles, including the Mustang coupe.”

Ford India had announced business restructuring which is in progress. That remains in line with the Ford+ plan for growth and value creation by strengthening automotive operations and capitalizing on unprecedented opportunities in electric and connected vehicles, the company said in a statement.

The US automaker’s Indian subsidiary has two plants in India: Sanand in Gujarat and in Chennai. Both can produce Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles. Ford had announced its plans to curtail manufacturing operations in India, with the option to retain the engine plant in Sanand to service its products in the country for the next five years.

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