Ford India to make global models, not India specific cars

Ford has been running its operations in India since a long time. Presently, Ford India is doing better than it has in years. With this progress one may assume that the company would continue making cars that Indians would love. But Ford's Indian operations will now be changing as the company will stop making cars specific to the Indians. According to the industry sources, now the company  will be making the global models. Michael Boneham, Ford India President and Managing Director, commented that every car that Ford  will launch from now onwards in India, one will see the same car in South America or in Europe or somewhere in the world. It is because the company can't afford anymore the legacy approach which are just designed for India. 

Mr. Boneham also stated that for pacifying the customers, India has been made a global hub and base for export of low displacement, fuel-efficient diesel and petrol small cars. He further added that  Ford would take global platforms and adapt to local conditions but there is nothing ongoing that is exclusive to India. Elaborating on this change in company’s strategy, Mr Boneham said that with the increasing movement of people across the globe, the customers want access to international cars in the domestic market. So now Ford cannot provide only those cars which are liked by Indians.

Mr. Boneham also said that Ford India has made several major changes in the way it manufactures these cars. A part of the investment that was done for doubling the capacity of the Chennai plant to 2 lakh units was also to make the assembly lines even  more flexible. Mr Boneham was also quoted saying that they have taken some learnings from partnership with Mazda as they have great flexibility in the manufacturing process and Ford has adapted them here. The company has also made an announcement that it would be launching eight new models by the middle of the decade. According to Mr. Boneham, with the launch of the new models, Ford will have to invest more in increasing capacities and also in workforce and in the products themselves.

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