Ford India Pvt Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of global automotive major Ford Motor Company, will commence production, as per schedule, at its Sanand plant near Ahmedabad by the end of 2014.
Ford, which has invested $1 billion in the Sanand facility, will employ about 5,000 people directly at this plant, when completed.
With this, the total annual capacity of Ford India at its Chennai and Sanand manufacturing plants would increase to 6,10,000 engines and 4,40,000 vehicles, Kel Kearns, Plant Manager, Sanand Vehicle Assembly Plant, said here.
The company plans to increase its sales and service outlets from 274 across 146 cities and towns in India now, to 500 by 2015, mainly in Tier-II and III markets, he told reporters here after announcing the fifth edition of Ford India’s ‘MidnightSurprise’ marketing campaign on December 5 across India.
As part of this marketing drive, Ford India’s dealerships will remain open from 8 a.m. to midnight on December 5 and offer assured gifts and prizes worth Rs 3.5 crore to those who book their vehicles on this particular day.
Ford India sold 12,050 units in November, including 4,141 units exported. Its combined domestic and export sales last month increased 19 per cent over the same period last year.