Ford India to invest 325 crore in Chennai

This was announced by the company in Chennai on Tuesday.  When the expansion programme is completed in mid-2012, the engine plant’s production capacity will increase from 2,50,000 to 3,30,000 units per year, an additional output of 80,000 diesel engines annually.

“This investment reinforces the importance of our Chennai plant and Ford’s continued expansion in India,” said Ford India President and MD Michael Boneham.

“This expansion will allow us to provide more technologically advanced and fuel-efficient engines to our customers in India and in markets around the world where we export Chennai-built vehicles.” The expansion of diesel engine production capacity will bring Ford’s total investment in India to more than $1 billion.

The new investment also supports the company’s plan to introduce eight new global Ford vehicles in India by 2015, Boneham added. “When the expansion is finished, a third production shift will be added at the engine assembly plant, creating more than 300 new direct jobs.”  The new investment is part of Ford India’s transformation into a major global export and manufacturing hub - 1.6 TiVCT, 1.4 HC and Duratorq engines will be exported from the country.

Currently, the plant produces five Duratec petrol engine variants and one Duratorq diesel engine variant for Ford vehicles. It is also gearing up to produce powertrains for Ford’s all-new global Fiesta sedan, when it is launched in India later this year.