Ford opens 5th dealership facility in Rajkot

Ford India kicked-off its fifth 3S (sales, service and spares) dealership facility in Rajkot on Thursday. Eagle Motors (EMPL) in Rajkot, the most recent dealership of Ford, is built according to the Ford's global standards.

With this facility in place, the company is planning to capture 30 per cent market share across the region in the automobile segment.

"Last quarter sales from Saurashtra-Kutch region comprises of 390 vehicles, out of which, we have claimed 27 per cent and are targeting 30 per cent of market share with this dealership facility in place," said Sanjay Nigam, General Manager, Sales and Field Operations, Ford India.

"We would now be able to cater to the needs of our customers in Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Amreli and Porbandar," he added.

Currently, the company is manufacturing Icon, Fiesta, and Fusion in luxury cars category and Endeavour in sports utility vehicle segment.

"We enjoy the market leadership in the B+ segment," Nigam said. "Our Ford Fiesta model is selling like a hot-cake. We have sold 14,125 units of Ford Fiesta in the first quarter of 2006, therefore, our focus is going to be more or less in promoting Fiesta along with other models," he added

With Fusion tagged at Rs 5.69 lakh, Icon at Rs 4.69 lakh, Fiesta entry level model at Rs 5.86 lakh and ending at Rs 8.05 lakh and Endeavour priced at Rs 13.85 lakh, we are quite confident on sales of our all models.

As per our surveys, diesel fuel operated vehicles are always in demand in Saurashtra, said Apruva Jani, regional sales manager, Ford India.

Manish Bavariya, director of EMPL, while talking to Business Standard, said,"We have launched total maintenance programme wherein our customers can avail a pre-paid service by just paying Rs 0.49 per km towards 10,000 kms and all the hassles of services and spares are taken care off, here customer needs not pay additional charges for services and spares."

Except recovering accidents and abuse of car, almost all other service and spares replacement facilities are going to be covered in TMP, he added.

Further, Ford has also launched customer-loyalty programme "" CarGainz. On accrual of specific points with Ford counters across the nation, customer can avail subsidies on future transactions with the company's outlets anywhere in the country, Manish said.

Ford has come-up with 24x7 pick-up and drop facility in case of break-downs and accidents, said Nigam.