Ford’s India return has been in the news for a while now. We’ve reported on how the Endeavour SUV is likely to make a comeback with the Everest nameplate, how the Ranger pickup is also being evaluated, and how the brand is focusing on affordable EVs based on a new platform developed by a Ford skunkworks team. In addition, some older design patents that were filed by Ford in India – including an SUV and an MPV – have surfaced online, fuelling speculation that the American brand may bring back some popular nameplates, along with more petrol and diesel-powered models.
However, one of the implications of Ford India’s plans is that we won’t be seeing any combustion-engined models positioned below the Endeavour (Everest), which means that the American company will not bring smaller petrol or diesel models to the market.
- Ford will only bring T6 platform products in India with diesel engines
- Production of EcoSport, Figo in India not cost-effective
- Everest, Ranger local production being evaluated
Speaking to Autocar India, a company source said, “That chapter [made-in-India mass market internal combustion engine models] is closed. Our internal combustion engine play in India will only be limited to T6 products.” By T6 products, the concerned person is referring to the Everest SUV and the Ranger pickup truck, as both are based on Ford’s T6 platform.
This implies that Ford India’s popular compact SUV, the EcoSport, along with the previously available Figo hatchback, Freestyle cross-hatch and Aspire compact sedan will not be seen at a showroom near you.
Ford’s foray into Indian mass market segments did not bear fruit as sales were quite slow. Profit margins suffered, which led to the company’s exit in 2021. Along with the fact that getting back into those segments does not make sense for the brand, Ford has already sold its Sanand facility to Tata Motors, where the Figo and its derivatives were produced.
In addition, in 2021, even sustaining the brand’s Maraimalai Nagar facility in Tamil Nadu – which allowed for more cost-effective manufacturing and produced the EcoSport and Endeavour – wasn’t financially viable, and that is consistent with today’s scenario as retooling the plant will not make financial sense. Finally, these mass-market segments have evolved considerably in the three years since Ford’s compact SUV, hatchback, sedan and cross-hatch went off the shelves; compact SUVs like the Mahindra XUV 3XO, Kia Sonet and Hyundai Venue get ADAS tech, 360-degree cameras, and other premium features, at a competitive price point.
Made-in-India Fords still some time away
The latest versions of both, the Everest SUV and the Ranger pickup, have been spied in the country on a few occasions and are being evaluated for local assembly at Ford’s Chennai plant, which had been kept in a ‘warm idle’ condition. However, it’s not apparent when Ford will start production of the Everest in India as that decision relies on the company’s EV strategy, which is still in the planning phase.
“We cannot build the Everest in isolation as it has to fit into one integral production plan with other products too,” said a company source. This could delay the manufacturing of the Everest in India to late 2025 or even 2026, but to bridge the gap, Ford is considering bringing in a small number of imports as a way to return to the market faster.
Also see:
Deep Drive Podcast: Is Ford coming back to India?