26th June 2013 is when the Ford EcoSport will bow into India

Ford India has finally let the cat out of the bag. The EcoSport compact crossover will be launched in India on the 26th of June 2013, with the launch marking a near 1.5 year wait. First unveiled at the 2012 Indian Auto Expo as a concept, the EcoSport has made the cut into production with most design elements of the concept left unchanged.  

The crossover represents Ford's maiden entry into India's compact SUV market, a booming segment that promises to become the epicenter of many a pitched battle between competing brands in the coming years. While Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and Honda are readying up their respective compact SUV offerings, car makers such as Renault and Ford will have the advantage of being early movers. 

Meanwhile, Ford has already begun dispatching the EcoSport to dealerships across the country what with the production of the crossover happening in full swing at Maramalainagar. In fact, a certain Mr Alan Mulally carried out the roll out honours earlier this week. The EcoSport is quite a significant launch for Ford India, in that it could represent the next big thing in the volumes game for the American car maker. 

While Ford India is bullish about exports of the made-in-India EcoSport, the crossover's real test will be in the domestic car market. Conditions seem favourable for compact SUVs in India, just as the Renault Duster has recently demonstrated. However, pricing will hold the key in India, as always. The high level of localization plus Ford's focus on exports could be two crucial aspects that determine the final price of the EcoSport.

Nearly a year ago, Renault India launched the Duster SUV, a runaway success right from word go, with a 60% localization level. Ford has already managed to localize about 70% of the EcoSport. This percentage of localization, along with a sub-4 meter length (and the accompanying excise benefits) could just allow Ford India to do a Figo with the EcoSport's pricing. 

The expectations are sky high, especially with speculations rife that the base variant of the EcoSport could be priced close to the 6 lakh rupee mark. If Ford does manage to achieve that pricing number, the EcoSport might turn out to be a veritable B+ segment hatchback slayer. The wait for the all important price tag is just a week away. For now, how about reading Team-BHP's review of the EcoSport?