Less than six months after Alan Mulally, Ford Motor Company president and CEO, revealed the new Figo to India, the first production model was driven off the assembly line today with the Minister of the State of Tamil Nadu, D. M Karunanidi in attendance.
Michael Boneham, president and managing director of Ford India; Raj Nair, Ford vice president of operations for the Asia Pacific and Africa regions; Sandip Sanyal, Ford’s executive director of operations for India, and nearly three thousand employees of the newly expanded facilities were on hand to take part in the Job 1 ceremony.
Following the Figo Job 1 ceremony, the group inaugurated the new engine facility that manufactures the exclusive 1,2-litre petrol engine for Figo.
Both the car assembly and engine manufacturing facilities in Chennai have undergone a major expansion to establish Chennai as a major hub for the entire Asia-Pacific-Africa (APA) region. Ford’s nearly US$500-million commitment over the past two years means that the facilities serve as the latest examples of Ford’s global manufacturing processes and have incorporated several new technologies for Ford and India. As an example, in the body and paint shop and on the assembly line, sixty-six robots have been added to ensure higher quality and a new 3-Wet high-solids paint technology applies a smooth, glossy finish without oven curing between coats. A first for India, the new process is environmentally friendly and reduces volatile organic compounds by 20 percent.
“Figo is a great example of the role Ford will play in the future of India,” Shri. Karunanidi said.
The vehicle will be equipped with a standard 1,2-litre petrol engine developed exclusively for the Indian market. Ford’s class-leading, fuel-efficient Duratorq 1,4-litre diesel engine will also be available. Both models will be equipped with manual five-speed transmissions. The chassis has been thoroughly retuned for the Indian market with a more compliant suspension tailored for local road conditions.
The new compact car underscores the importance Ford has placed in the burgeoning Indian automotive market as well as throughout the region. While Figo will be manufactured primarily for Indian consumers initially, the new model also will be exported to other countries, including South Africa, as early as mid-2010.
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