Ford sees Ikon sales rising 20% this year

Ford India Pvt Ltd expects to increase the sales of its Ikon series by around 20 per cent during the current calendar year.

The company had sold 18,000 Ford Ikons during calendar year 2003. The delivery of its sports utility vehicle, Ford Endeavour, which begin in December last year is around 150 units a month and 'D' segment vehicle Ford Mondeo is around 10 to 20 units a month.

Talking to the media in Chennai, Ford India's managing director, David Friedman said, "The calendar year 2003 the automobile industry in India grew by 20 per cent. If the 'feel good' environment continues into 2004, the industry can expect a 20 per cent growth during the year too."

Friedman said favourable interest rates, healthy stock market, healthy economy would help in achieving a 20 per cent growth during the calendar year 2004.

The export of CKD (completely knocked down) versions of Ikon, however, slipped by around 15 per cent during 2003.

The shipment of Ikon in CKD condition fell to 24,000 units in 2003 from 28,000 units in 2002. The company however expects to maintain the shipment of Ikon CKD version to 24,000 during 2004.

Ikon is exported to South Africa, Mexico and Brazil from the company's plant in Maraimalai Nagar, near Chennai. The company today announced the names of 20 component suppliers in India who have been awarded the prestigious Q1 Award. Ford India has a total of 97 component suppliers in India.

The Ford Q1 Award is in its second year of implementation around the world. Ford Q1 lays out a set of fundamental quality and manufacturing metrics that indicate the suppliers ability to meet Ford's requirements in the areas of capable systems, ongoing quality performance, customer satisfaction and continual improvement.

Ford India officials said that Q1 awardees can now bid for Ford's component requirement world over and would be considered favourably. Friedman said that the Ford Q1 award is also respected by other automobile manufacturers around the world, even when each of these companies have their own supplier development programme.