The Economic Times of India says that Ford is set to wow the Indian market later this year with a global car, completely designed and developed in Australia, that will be first launched in India before any other market.
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The report said Ford’s plant near Chennai will become the export hub for the model, which is a totally new car in Ford’s stable worldwide.
Codenamed ‘B376’, the new car is likely to be positioned as an entry level ‘D’ segment model in India and help it bridge the wide gap between the Ikon, its offering in the Indian ‘C’ segment and the Mondeo in the ‘E’ segment. The new car will be taking on the likes of the high-end Honda City and Chevrolet Optra, the report said.
“It is not the Ford Focus nor something that’s built on the Fiesta platform. It’s a totally new car, which will be wider than the Ikon and looking more attractive,” sources privy to the development process told ET.
It will be launched in the fourth quarter of this year in India, with a high localised content in manufacturing. “While the petrol engine will be sourced from within the country, the diesel engines are to be imported,” they pointed out.
The ET report also said that India is tipped to be the manufacturing hub for the new car for several countries, possibly including Australia, where it has been completely designed.
