[TaurusSHO]

Hope this is true. I mean all signs point to it. The last minute cancelation of its Chennai plant sale, this patent and new job listings!



LINK

[bullitt1]

Ford should bring the Endeavour right away and streamline the production by 2025. I will have to start skipping meals to save for this beauty. I hope the price would be realistic even if its CBU/CKD.

[sprashanth1982]

Originally Posted by TusharK

The current-gen Ford Endeavour is offered with a 2.0-litre diesel engine in two states of tune and a 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel. Transmission options include a 6-speed manual and a 10-speed automatic.

While I am glad that FORD are coming back to India, I am disappointed with the fact that the Endeavour is likely to be a conventional Diesel-powered SUV only. Given the concerns around climate change & Indian automotive industry aiming towards zero-emission target, FORD could have taken the initiative and launched the Endeavour with a Hybrid, CNG or Electric powertrain. Instead of that, they are simply following the pack of the current automakers in India & going ahead with offering a highly-polluting conventional Diesel ICE for the Endeavour

[Starwar19]

What a great news! I can’t wait to see it Shining with full glory on our Indian Roads. Trade in for Jeep Meridian is coming soon for me. The car looks smashing from the front and elegant from the inside. Ford look how excited we Bhpians are.

[HighOnSpeed]

Yes. Everything that we've seen so far point towards a possible re-entry. They may manufacture the Endeavor along with a few other high end models. If it all comes to fruition, we can expect CKDs kits to come in from Thailand. But unfortunately, they will be selling at a much higher premium compared to the previous gen that was made available to us earlier. Nonetheless, it is a stupendous value proposition. I just hope they price it atleast 10-20% less than the current fortuner models on sale. I am also wishing they bring in the Ford Mustang back to our Indian shore along with the other planned models. I'm sure a lot of us are dying to get our hands on one!

[youknowitbetter]

This is crazy!! Ford has lot of other cars (and lots of SUVs, which are the flavour right now) in its stable, which can be offered in India, provided they are willing to spend money and time since the India sales were minuscule to their overall sales. Offering like these will also help in market maturing to better products as the only competitor it has is Fortuner wherein (sorry to say) Toyota is just milking the brand.

Also, Ford entering India should also make Honda and FCA relook at their India strategy (in a positive way). Overall a win win!

[saumitra_joshi]

As a proud Freestyle owner, I would be absolutely delighted to have Ford back. My Jeep Compass lease expires in 2026, would definitely consider upgrading to the Endeavour if it were available!!

[Masalawheelz]

Hi,

Sorry to break the dream cloud but please take this news with a pinch of salt for the following reasons:

1. As an IP Lawyer, I can tell you that most big brands apply for patents of their international models in countries even where they do not have sales, to protect their IP. This can be a scenario where Ford has chosen to protect its IP in India as they would still be using the manufacturing plant in Chennai (not necessarily for sale in India but for export)

2. I remember reading previous articles where Ford had repeatedly indicated that they would still be present in India for R&D and manufacturing purposes. They may therefore choose to test the endeavour here and manufacture here for export to targeted countries.

Until Ford comes out with a public statement confirming the news report, I don't want to believe such news as I'm still heart broken from their exit and the sale of our dear EcoSport!

Cheers!

[Gautham_v6]

Though I could see many members excited at the news of Ford Endeavour relaunch and evidently Ford's second innings in India, I would however advise members to be cautious ( not in the negative sense), given the rough phase the brand has been in Indian market.

I wouldn't expect Ford to be making entry level cars at this stage, they might rather position as a premium automotive brand, given their missteps post ecosport launch 9-10 years back.

My post isn't intended for fear mongering, rumour mongering, just trying to be cautious.

[anjan_c2007]

They were selling in the tens/hundred/s per month and were assembling it from imported CKD kits. Doesn't make sense to fully manufacture it and Ford used the same option for their Mustangs. Hence, that's an easy option for the company to restart its assembly again.

But since they have shelved plans to sell the Chennai plant to JSW (the MG India buyers), more and more from Ford could be in the offing. Let's wait and watch.

The old pop song by Lee Ann Womack applies for Ford in India :-

Now you see me, now you don't,
First you do but then you won't,
Watch me vanish right before your eyes;
You might think you see me there,
In a cafe on a street somewhere,
Yeah, that might be me but I'll be gone,
Now you see me, now you don't !

[DRPSREDDY]

Originally Posted by sprashanth1982

While I am glad that FORD are coming back to India, I am disappointed with the fact that the Endeavour is likely to be a conventional Diesel-powered SUV only. Given the concerns around climate change & Indian automotive industry aiming towards zero-emission target, FORD could have taken the initiative and launched the Endeavour with a Hybrid, CNG or Electric powertrain. Instead of that, they are simply following the pack of the current automakers in India & going ahead with offering a highly-polluting conventional Diesel ICE for the Endeavour

SUVs and High powered machines are only worthy with diesel engines as they push in higher torque. There is absolutely no fun in Hybrids as they are sluggish and give a long and linear power that is boring. Let this be deisel powered and later Ford can introduce other models like Mid sized SUVs, MPVs and Sedans with Hybrid power trains. That will be a clever move.

But Ford should prioritize Kuga, Bronco and Explorer along with Endeavour as some of them are assembled in the UK. Bronco is officially not sold in UK but imported from USA via a private Import specialist Clive Sutton.

[84.monsoon]

Originally Posted by TaurusSHO

Hope this is true. I mean all signs point to it. The last minute cancelation of its Chennai plant sale, this patent and new job listings!

Attachment 2553899

LINK

Remember that Ford also has a very large engineering and business services centre in Chennai (GCC) where they actually design and validate global products including on board electronics. I do hope these job listings for the actual factory to meet Indian market needs and not for the global services centre of Ford that works on the international market requirements.

[Kosfactor]

The chance of this happening will be nearly as much as a chicken growing them horns , yeah.

Is there a case for a 50L Ford SUV with limited support and parts availability? Yes. If VAG can sell Kodiak/Tiguan etc, I'm sure this too may sell albeit in limited numbers.They just have to make sure it's the top of the line model with minimum 5 year unlimited kms warranty.

That is only the car part of it - how do they sell it, what channel? Open new showrooms?

[DRPSREDDY]

Originally Posted by Kosfactor

Is there a case for a 50L Ford SUV with limited support and parts availability? Yes. If VAG can sell Kodiak/Tiguan etc, I'm sure this too may sell albeit in limited numbers.They just have to make sure it's the top of the line model with minimum 5 year unlimited kms warranty.

If ford wants to get back to selling cars in India, along with the Endeavour, the first product they should launch is KUGA. Ford should forget the sub 4 meter category and just concentrate on mid size SUV onwards. They should concentrate on brand building. The business is slowly moving away from sub 4 meter cars to mid size segment.

Originally Posted by Kosfactor

That is only the car part of it - how do they sell it, what channel? Open new showrooms?

They have a vast service centre network, thought it's downsized than before. They can open showrooms and call for new dealers. They can do it much quicker than a brand like Citroen.

[LordSharan]

Originally Posted by AutoMagic

If that happens then my preference would be the Ford Endeavour over the Toyota Fortuner. Fortuner is rugged but it's unmatchable against the Ford Endeavour. Toyota must bid goodbye to high pricing of the Fortuner

I so wish that it's true. There's a huge "but" to this though. Things could play out differently, and Ford might end up pricing Endeavour comparatively (given it could come via CKD route) higher than Fortuner, thus leading Toyota to believe, "it's time for another price hike", and all these three start competing against X3/Q5/GLC.

Ohh, that sounds like such a bad dream.