The Hindu Business Line : Ford eyes 27,000 Ikons sales this year

Mr David Friedman, Managing Director and President, Ford India, at the launch of the new Ikon line-up and Ford Endeavour in Kolkata on Friday. — Parth Sanyal

Kolkata , Aug. 20

FORD India Pvt Ltd has targeted sales of 27,000 units of the Ford Ikon in the domestic market in 2004.

Last year, the company sold 18,500 Ikon variants in India. Besides, in the calendar year 2003, Ford India exported 24,000 units of the Ikon in CKD (completely knocked down) form to South Africa, Mexico and Brazil. The export target for 2004 has been pegged at the same level as in 2003, according to Mr David Friedman, Managing Director and President of Ford India Pvt Ltd.

Addressing a press conference held here today to unveil the new Ikon line-up and the Ford Endeavour at the company's new dealership in Kolkata, Mr Friedman said that, in the period January-June 2004, India's passenger car market in the mid-sized segment had grown by 45 per cent over the corresponding period of 2003.

The growth in this segment was being driven by greater affordability in terms of car loans at low rates of interest, lower taxes, higher income among the buyers and the desire of people to move up from small cars to the mid-sized car segment. Significant growth was being witnessed in the non-metros and bigger towns.

In view of the increasing demand for Ford Ikon variants, a second shift has been made operational at the company's manufacturing facility at Maraimalai Nagar near Chennai. An additional 700 people have been hired on this score as well. "We will generate manufacturing efficiencies and pass on the benefits to customers in the form of value," Mr Friedman said and added that this was reflected in the new Ikon line-up.The new Ikon line-up is aimed at small car users who would wish to upgrade to mid-sized cars with customised financing. At the lower end, the Ford Ikon LXI has been priced at Rs 4.56 lakh ex-showroom Kolkata. The Flair has been priced at Rs 4.87 lakh while the petrol and diesel variants of the Ford Ikon EXI has been priced at Rs 5.58 lakh and Rs 6.19 lakh, respectively. The petrol version of the Ford ZXI would be available at Rs 6.08 lakh ex-showroom Kolkata, while the diesel variant was priced at Rs 6.70 lakh.

Mr Friedman said the company had sold 1,300 units of the sports utility vehicle (SUV) Ford Endeavour since it was launched in December last year. The Ford Endeavour would continue to retain a 40 per cent share of the SUV market segment, he said.

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