Ford India Feb sales up 23%; to launch Figo on March 9

Carmaker Ford India today reported 22.67 per cent rise in its February sales at 3,223 units, as against 2,636 units in the same month of last year.

The company will also launch its small car Figo on March 9.

"We are seeing an overwhelming response to our product line-up with the Fiesta and Endeavour recording strong year-on-year growth of more than hundred per cent," Ford India Executive Director (Marketing, Sales and Service) Nigel Wark said in a statement.

He said the company will continue to leverage the momentum in the run-up to the launch of the Ford Figo.

The company started work on the small car in 2007 and the global unveiling of the Figo was done in September last year during the India visit of Ford Motor Company President and Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally.

"We will become a significant player in the compact car segment with this car," Mulally had said during the occasion.

He had further added: "Our plan for India involves accelerating development of fuel efficient small cars. The small car market in India will double in the next one decade."

Currently small cars account for over 72 per cent of the 1.22 million units sold in India.

The company plans to export a significant number of the Figo to Asia Pacific and African countries in 2010.

Ford India has started the commercial production of the Figo at its Chennai plant on February 5.