[devil_klm]

Ford Motor Co said on Friday it is considering producing electric vehicles (EVs) in India for export, and possibly for sale in the domestic market, just months after the U.S. automaker decided to stop selling and manufacturing cars in the country. Ford's comments mark a shift in strategy after it said in September it was taking a hit of about $2 billion because it does not see a path to profitability and was leaving the major auto market. The decision came as a setback for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Make in India" campaign.



https://robinhood.com/news/article/6...9-7aaf3fc60e16

[Venkatesh]

Ford is considering producing EVs in India.

Kapil Sharma, director, Communications at Ford India, confirmed that the firm is looking into restarting operations by manufacturing electric vehicles, saying, “We thank the Government of India for approving Ford’s proposal under the PLI scheme for the automobile sector.

Ford said it was "exploring the possibility of using a plant in India as an export base for EV manufacturing."

Ford could make India an export-only manufacturing base. The Government PLI scheme allows for companies to locally produce products even if they are not sold here, so long as the company meets localisation targets, year-on-year growth targets and a few other criteria.

Source

[V.Narayan]

Ford is spelt "Confused". What more can I say. This is what happens when Wall Street analysts with the outlook of a quarter drive a company to take decisions that need to be gauged in years and years. I hope for their sake they are not serious after having abandoned millions of customers {spares, service, resale value et al} and left them dangling and sent a few hundred dealers into some financial loss. You don't exit the worlds 4th or 5th largest market which is growing and has promise for much more just like that. But now that you've done it mate be consistent. If you are coming back with EVs most discerning customers might want to think twice. I most certainly will. There is a reason money conscious Indians are loyal to Maruti - it is spelt consistency & reliability.

Your inability to break even in India was 65% your management and 35% market, taxes and Govt policies. Accept that. What can you say to convince your EV customer that in 10 years you want throw the toys out of the pram and walk off in a huff again. Peugeot anyone.

Originally Posted by devil_klm

Ford Motor Co said on Friday it is considering producing electric vehicles (EVs) in India for export, and possibly for sale in the domestic market, just months after the U.S. automaker decided to stop selling and manufacturing cars in the country. Ford's comments mark a shift in strategy after it said in September it was taking a hit of about $2 billion because it does not see a path to profitability and was leaving the major auto market. The decision came as a setback for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Make in India" campaign.
https://robinhood.com/news/article/6...9-7aaf3fc60e16

PS: The article is behind a paywall. Could you quote some key paragraphs from it please. Thanks.

[Electromotive]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

PS: The article is behind a paywall. Could you quote some key paragraphs from it please. Thanks.

You can read the one on Autocar.

Export only. Seems like Ford HQ is interested in some sweatshop work, govt. handouts, and material cost arbitrage. Might be they also want to keep a foot in the door in the Indian market.

[CarNerd]

I have a request for Ford: Please stop thinking about India! You couldn't do anything with ICE vehicles and now you want to enter with EVs? Why? Did you smoke any new stuff? If at all you want to come back, do so after a Vanvaas of 13 years, we might believe you then. Until then, leave us in peace.

[dragracer567]

Originally Posted by Venkatesh

Ford is considering producing EVs in India.

I wonder what Ford is thinking here! They have seriously undermined the trust of the Indian consumers by announcing a very high-profile exit but if they want to continue to actively use India as an export hub for EVs, why not just launch these EVs in India as well along with some lower high-end models like the Endeavour? Unsure if consumers will trust Ford again though. Good for Indian manufacturing anyway, the PLI scheme seems to be working then.

[gkveda]

Ford washed their hands by leaving all Indian Ford customers in the mid of nowhere. They made car owners who invested 20-40L cry for their decision to go for Ford cars. They left India abruptly without bothering about the owners and cars.

Now, they want to come back and spoil other people who are living happily.

I think, now, it is our turn to make Ford cry for their decision of coming back to India. We should make them learn that India is not a place where they can sell any crap, make money and leave as and when they wish.

This is not an emotional post. But just imagine people who have put their life time earning on their cars and realize that company who is expected to support and serve/maintain their cars disappeared within months of purchase.

[shancz]

Ford reconsiders India ? Maybe but I don't think the vice versa is true in this case.

They would be interested wherever good profits lie and probably want to diversify their manufacturing for supply chain flexibility but that's about it and that's exactly what they said, "exporting".

Ford is a closed chapter and we should move on, IMHO.

[dust-n-bones]

While most posts on this thread are about how shockingly were Indian customers treated due to Ford's sudden exit (true), this thread is about Ford investing in EV manufacturing capability in India.

We should discuss that on its own merit, regardless of whether Ford offers those EVs in India, or Indians should pick up the courage to buy a Ford again.

That should be a good thing certainly? We have, by the way, already missed the boat for EVs, whether in researching for EV technologies, manufacturing or creating the infrastructure for their adoption.





By Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz) - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/inde...curid=66102727


Our youth is then left fighting for government jobs which can help unemployment, but not employability.

In this scenario, if Ford sets up manufacturing for even EV parts, that gives India a foot in the door for this vital technology of the next 100 years.

I, for one, welcome Ford.

By the way, Ford's legendary F-150 truck has now a pure EV model, starting prices in the US at Rs 30-ish lakhs. What do we get in that ballpark in India?

[GutsyGibbon]

A company's strategy needs to span decades. In the case of Ford it's the next quarter, or year at best. How does it make any sense to build a brand, abandon the factory, the workforce, dealer network, and customers, to build it all back up in a few years.

Sometimes i feel, they will do anything if they think a specific narrative will impress the stock buyers.

[dragracer567]

Originally Posted by dust-n-bones

That should be a good thing certainly? We have, by the way, already missed the boat for EVs, whether in researching for EV technologies, manufacturing or creating the infrastructure for their adoption.

Our youth is then left fighting for government jobs which can help unemployment, but not employability.

In this scenario, if Ford sets up manufacturing for even EV parts, that gives India a foot in the door for this vital technology of the next 100 years.

I, for one, welcome Ford.

Indeed, there are two sides to this. Any company investing in India is a good thing, they bring valuable jobs, FOREX and an increase in GDP. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that the product itself will be successful in India given the trust deficit from the way Ford exited the market. But then again, that probably won’t matter when they want to use the factories mostly for export (so more of those valuable FOREX!).

[warp_10]

Ford's equation with India is very similar to some soap series. Love at first sight, relation building, break up, getting back.

Hope it ends in a happy marriage

[narmad]

FORD is trying to make the best use of their assets in India.
There seems to be some profitability on paper, at least now, under the PLI scheme with good incentives for next 5 years.
This is great news for Indian Manufacturing sector [ not necessarily Ford Vehicle Owners ] in India.
As it is, FORD does not have EV line-up relevant to the Indian Market.
There will be very little demand for F150 or Mustang here.

[ruzbehxyz]

After some of the negative comments, I would like to add some points:

1. After the announcement in September 2021, Ford declared that they will stop production in India and there will be some restructuring. They also said that they will introduce some vehicles like Mustang Mach E, by way of imports.

2. They have promised for service and convinced many Ford ASC to sign a bond and continue their service to existing customers. As far I can see the service is the same in terms of quality and price, especially in Tier 1 cities. Can't comment on smaller cities and towns. As far as I can see, exiting Ford owners will not have service issues for next 7 years or so.

3. Ford never "exited" India, they only stopped production of the Indian line up.

4. The two factories of Ford in India - Sanad (GJ) and Chennai (TN) were to be sold but the deal never went through. These factories are of world class standards and hence they decided to use the potential of one factory. This will recreate the jobs lost for Indians.

5. Looking at the future potential for EVs in India, they made an announcement that they may start production of EVs in India, but for India is a question mark still.

All in all, they never exited India and are trying to enter the Indian EV market, which is still very raw.

[ABHI_1512]

More than the negative comments, it’s the untrue part of it which is more glaring. Not one owner has been left in the lurch after the announcement of Ford ceasing production in India. Service part has only improved after the announcement, at least for the Tier1 and Tier2 cities which anyway constituted majority of Ford dealers. Most of the service centers continue to operate as I just found out across three states recently and that should be the case with other states as well. Agreed that the announcement didn’t help initially but since then, Ford has only tried to reaffirm it’s commitment to the service part for existing owners. Which company that has exited a country spends on advertisements in reassuring the existing owners ??

Some folks panicked after the announcement and went into panic selling. And now, some months later, good sense has prevailed and people are actually looking forward to keeping their cars for good. Ford has not really ‘exited’ India, they have only stopped selling as of now. They have two world class factories and I hope they leverage the assets in a fruitful manner. They have announced that they might bring vehicles through CBU or CKD route. Now to take their announcements in good faith or not is entirely a personal issue since not many would like to believe what Ford has to say now.

If they want to make EV’s here for exporting then it’s going to be a good thing only since factories would run again and create employment. Whether they sell in India or not, that’s their decision to make just as whether to buy or not is our decision to make. At the end of the day, the brand will continue to be in the country and that should answer all the doubts which are being raised now !!