[santhosh_pmi]

Awesome report. It really inspires one's confidence to know how Ford is committed in delivering quality products to its customers. Ford is making right moves to make it big in India.

[judesat]

Would it be possible to sneak a visit to the Ford plant in Chennai? I have been trying to do this for a year now, but I haven't been able to find the right person to get in touch with. It would be great if someone can guide me on this.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by santhosh_pmi

Awesome report.

Thanks! I thoroughly enjoyed compiling this report, as it's something different for the community.

Originally Posted by judesat

Would it be possible to sneak a visit to the Ford plant in Chennai?

Slim chance of that happening. Even some Ford employees (from other departments) are not allowed inside the plant. It's guarded like a fortress!

[smashnerd]

I can't believe I missed this thread! Stumbling on to it is like entering paradise for a car nut. You are one lucky guy, GTO. And the guys who make these cars are even luckier.

[Mr.Beat]

This is a superb Thread, Any chance you doing the same for Beat at talegaon? I would love to see how my car was made

[jk007]

Awesome thread! How did you manage to take the camera inside the factory and take the pictures?

[mahalingam_a]

Originally Posted by GTO

Child Parts

Ford carries the "expensive to maintain" reputation from the early Ikon / Mondeo days. In its effort to reduce ownership costs, Ford has adopted the "child parts" approach. To give you an example of the child parts approach, if the solenoid of your starter fails, you do NOT need to change the entire starter assembly. Rather, Ford will sell you only the solenoid assembly (which will, of course, cost only a fraction of that for the entire starter).

The door & door skin sold separately:
Attachment 352144

Important in India - Mirror glass and cover sold independent of the assembly:
Attachment 352145

Starter motor parts:
Attachment 352146

Ditto for the compressor:
Attachment 352147

And the Alternator:
Attachment 352148

Float unit can be purchased separately:
Attachment 352149

That's what your gears look like. Again, ratios can be bought individually:
Attachment 352150

Fantastic Review, GTO! I live in Chennai and had gone past this facility many a times during the late '90s during the Escort and Mondeo days. I wondered if I would be allowed then, but you virtually took me there! Kudos.

[raviacc2825]

This is fantastic, a very good report GTO.

This was like watching the supercars show on television, simply awesome. I would love to visit such mega factories some day in my life.

Good i bumped into this thread.

Ravi

[judesat]

Hi

I live in Chennai and drive a Figo. Ever since I've wanted to drive the Figo, I have been eagerly checking with friends if it were possible to do a visit to the Ford plant in Chennai. Would any of you know if such a visit is possible at all? If yes, I would love to make one.

[thoma]

Originally Posted by GTO

Indian "rough road" conditions have been artificially created on the track.

Thanks GTO for showing us around. I thoroughly enjoyed the details, especially how the steel rolls take shape of the body of the car. One quick question though. Are all cars / some cars from the production line tested on the artificially created track?