Ford India says Sanand plant to be operational by 2014 end

The company has posted a 33% rise in domestic sales to 7,909 units during the month of November

Ford India today said that it is on track with commissioning its Sanand facility which is expected to be operational by end of 2014.

The company has posted a 33 per cent rise in domestic sales to 7,909 units during the month of November, while its overall sales including exports rose 19 per cent to 12,050 units last month.

Kel Kearns, director, manufacturing, new India site, Ford India who is heading the design, constrction and launch of the vehicle assembly and engine plant of Sanand said that the Sanand facility is likely to be operational by the end of 2014 and work is very much on track. Ford India has invested close to $ 2 billion in India so far including Chennai and Sanand facilities. The Sanand project cost is estimated to be around $ 1 billion, and the plant would employ around 5,000 people directly once completed. Kearns said that from a share of around 23 per cent in 2000, Asia Pacific region's share in Ford's global sales is expected to rise to 48 per cent by 2020. In 2012, it contributed around 44 per cent of the company's global sales. Of this, in India alone, the company expects the market size for passenger vehicles would rise to 9 million units by 2020. Ford India has had 60,000 bookings for its newly launched EcoSport vehicle. The company is planning to increase its sales and service outlets from 274 now across 146 cities to around 500 outlets by mid-decade. At Sanand itself a new outlet is all set to come up.

Meanwhile, riding on the current demand for its products, Ford India is planning to keep its dealerships open from 8 in the morning to midnight on December 5 across India as well as offer prizes worth Rs 3.5 crore to all those who book a Ford car that day. Termed the 'Midnight Surprise', this will be the third year of the sales connect campaign.