Ford’s Eco Boost for India

Ford India is pretty focused on the Indian car market and it is coming up with uniqe things to lure more and more buyers. The carmaker is soon going to bring its EcoBoost technology for its upcoming eight new vehicles for the Indian market in the next five years. The technology already exists in the cars the company sells in the US.

Like several other carmakers Ford too is interested in the pre-owned market in India and it is soon going to launch its pre-owned car business known as ‘Ford Approved’ in India within the next six months.

The company is also planning to export Figo – the hatchback model launched earlier this year. The car could be exported 50 in South America and Northern Africa. The target set by Ford for 2011 is to export 10,000 Figos outside of South Africa. The company is working on making India the export hub for small cars.

According to a statement by Michael Boneham , president and managing director of Ford India, “Ford’s EcoBoost engine technology was introduced a year ago in the US and has met with great response. These engines sport 20 percent better fuel efficiency and 15 percent lesser emissions. We plan to introduce this kind of EcoBoost engines in India as well.”

Earlier Ford had announced eight new vehicles for India. About 70 per cent of its growth would come from Asian markets especially China and India. The company is doing well with its hatchback model Ford Figo in the Indian market and says that the new vehicles would be in the compact car segment, which sees the highest volumes. And it is currently ruled by indigenous car maker Maruti Suzuki claiming about 50 per cent of the total market. In an earlier statement Joe Hinrichs, president of Ford Asia Pacific and Africa, said in an interview, “We believe the Indian market at the end of the decade will be the third largest auto market in the world behind China and the US.”