Ford Motors has literally played a trump card by unveiling the Ford EcoSport at the Auto Expo. Foraying into the compact SUV segment, Ford India backs the Ford EcoSport with some high bets. The auto major now plans to invest a huge sum of Rs 750 crore on production to gear up for the launch. The compact SUV will be produced locally at their Chennai manufacturing unit to meet, what the auto major hopes to be is an outrageous demand for the compact SUV especially in the Indian car market.
The compact Ford EcoSport powered by the 1.0 L EcoBoost engine and a 1.5 L diesel engine is definitely the weapon it had been anticipating to deliver in the Indian car market. Agreed that the America-based car manufacturer is a big player in the global markets, but the Indian car market scenario did not offer the auto major enough chance to topple the established players like Maruti Suzuki India, Hyundai India, Tata Motors or Mahindra and Mahindra who is quickly gaining traction in the country with uncontrolled pace. But, it is not enough if Ford India cooks up some clever idea to beat the top car manufacturers in the country, after all, these established players also should be willing to be toppled.
On the contrary they too have their own cards up their sleeve, which they did managed to deliver with a punch at the Auto Expo. Maruti India has displayed its compact SUV concept, the Maruti XA Alpha, Tata Motor’s pride with Tata Safari Storme was quite evident at the 2012 Auto Expo, which could also sit in the same price bracket, Hyundai also does have a compact SUV in the pipe-line and Mahindra is far ahead to be even considered in this league. All the same, Mahindra too had an enterprise of its SUVs from SsangYong, the Rexton and Korando at the Auto Expo. Renault Duster is any way following the stream if not now, but definitely some time later. Despite the slow car market, Ford India has witnessed an amazing growth with record-breaking sales of 96,000 last year and a wide range of dealerships across the country with 220 sales and service outlets in the country. Isn’t Ford EcoSport enough to take Ford India where it hopes to be?
