Ford CEO Launches New Fiesta in India; May Build Hybrids There
26 October 2005
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In an indication of the increasing importance of the Indian market, Ford Motor Company Chairman and CEO Bill Ford made his first visit to India this week to launch the Ford Fiesta, an all-new sedan developed specifically for that market by Ford’s global engineering team.
As we accelerate our effort to meet the global challenges of our business, I have emphasized the importance of optimizing our global footprint by investing in areas that are growing. India is right at the top of that list. This market is critical to our plans for building a Ford Motor Company for the 21st century.
—Bill Ford
Ford also met with the the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Selvi J Jayalalithaa, during his two day visit to the country.
According to a report by PTI (Press Trust of India), Ford indicated during the meeting that the company is considering expanding production of its hybrid cars to India. Ford has already drawn up expansion plans for its plant near Chennai, although not targeted at hybrids production.
The new four-door Fiesta will be introduced with two available powertrains: the Duratec gasoline 1.6-liter engine and the Duratorq 1.4-liter TDCi diesel. This marks the introduction of Ford’s Turbo Direct Common Rail injection (TDCi) technology in India.
When the Fiesta goes on sale in the fourth quarter of 2005, it will become the fifth new product for Ford in India since 1999, joining the Ikon, Mondeo, Endeavor and Fusion.
For the Indian market, Fiesta benefits from enhanced requirement standards deployed as part of a Ford global practice for monsoon regions. Extensive water wading tests were successfully conducted to develop Fiesta as a vehicle capable of wading through Indian monsoon flooding, handling bow waves, while not allowing ingress of water into the body compartment and other water-sensitive systems.
In 2004, Ford India sold 27,064 vehicles. Ford also placed among the top three automotive brands in the recently released J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2005 India Customer Satisfaction Index Study.
The Indian market is extremely competitive, with GM, Hyundai and Indian automakers Maruti and Tata dominating. Ford and Mazda combined vie competitively with Toyota, Honda and others in the field.
The midsize car market is the highest growth segment. Over the last couple of years, this segment has been expanding at twice the rate of the overall market. Passenger cars in general are expected to grow by six percent by 2013.
India also plays a major role in Ford exports and as a supplier base for Asia. Ford India exports Ikon kits to South Africa and South America, and components are exported to China.
thanks for your imfirmation
Posted by: pathik | 14 November 2005 at 11:56 PM
please let me have the details of ford fiesta inculding the price.
Posted by: john Varkey | 29 November 2005 at 07:21 AM
i would like to know about ford fiesta crdi diesel engines about fuel efficiency is there any comprimise in the power output etc,there is a complaint that crdi engine is having only less fuel myleage compared to ordinary diesel engine ,is this do to the poor fuel quality clarify please
Posted by: shiyas sm | 05 March 2006 at 08:23 PM
Pl.inform me details of Ford Fiesta along with price details
Posted by: A.M.BAGWE | 18 April 2006 at 08:47 AM
Dear Madam/Sir:
This is with reference to my booking amount of Rs 10000/- which I have done for Ford Fiesta in Talera Ford in Pune.
Your Sales Executive Mr Krishna Chandaliya was handling my case in coordination with Mr Shripati Karale and Rajiv Darekar.
They submitted my case to Kotak and told me my loan is approved and I should pay the balance amount and I would get the car in 4-5 days.
Later they mentioned that my loan is declined from Kotak.
Krishna gave me reference of Mr Pathak at Tata Finance for loan approval and it got sanctioned only for 80% which I said no as I wanted 90%.
So I requested Krishna to refund my Booking amount as the proposal was not approved by Talera/Kotak. I was looking everything should be
under one roof (Talera). The deal was not cancelled by me it was by Talera so I asked for my booking amount.
I went to Talera ford showroom yesterday at 3pm to meet Krishna and Rajiv for my refund, both were not available. The front desk executive spoke to Rajiv
and conveyed a message to me that I should be givng a request letter for refund and I will get the refund within 4-5 days, just to confirm this I spoke to Rajiv from Talera and he clearly told me that I will have to bare some cancellation charges and remaining balance will be refunded.
For that I went to Talera today to give the letter as Rajiv informed, and today Rajiv is denying for the refund. He didnt even responded to me properly and talked to in a rude manner.
I am working with a MNC corporate company and we have Ford cars with our employees which was purchased from Taurus without any hassels.
Talera made me run for each and every small thing initially for documentation and I cooperated with them in a smooth way and today
Rajiv's behaviour with me was not good in regards to my refund.
I would appreciate if you could look into the matter immediately and request you to refund my booking amount as I am not interested in buying any FORD
Vehicle.
Thank you
Sincerely
Moizuddin Shaikh
Manager - Infrastructure
Avesta Computers Pvt Ltd.
India Ph. 020-27292927
India Cell. 9860665786
Posted by: Moiz Shaikh | 24 April 2007 at 05:40 AM
Dear Sir,
I purchased a Ford Fiesta from Talera ford, Near Gunjan Talkines at Pune.
I came across a very poor logistic support from the local staff. Even after paying the full amount well in advance ( 15 Days before the expected delivary)On the day of commitment I was informed that the vehicle is not there. On repeated request,as I had to have delivary on the specific date as my sons birthday falls on the day requested, I was told that the vehicle will come from Mumbai and then it will be delivered but there are no base pack,mud flap and seat covers.No registration document,number plate received till day that is after 4 days of delivery. No seat covers. No corporate discount still provided as was committed.On enquiry I was told that we can not give the specific time as I was committed that the fully loaded car will be delivered in 2 days.The case was delt by Mr Sagar and Mr Amit from the Talera ford, Pune.I sincerely request for the fulfillment of the committments done at the time of booking.
Posted by: Dr P. W. Borgaonkar | 06 November 2007 at 11:27 PM
I am owing a ford fiesta(04/2006)diesel.It is giving only 17.5 to 18 Km average per litre since it's purchase date.It is so less average than what was said to us as 31 ltr average.secondly the local dealer who is 350kms away from our place "Raipur" is not serving properly as such the fuel filters were not changed by him at the time of routine service by changing of mobioil as these filters were not available with him.The vehicle run 10000Kms without changing of filters.Other problem of abnormal sound from door side could not be detected/rectified by the mechenic who attended the car.3rd problem is that the sound system which gone out of order due to detachment of connection from battery during repair by mechenic came from showroom is still stopped and requiring code has not been sent by dealer so far.After repeatdly request the dealer is not caring.
Posted by: Suresh Vishwakarma | 16 January 2008 at 08:09 AM
I shall be grateful if you kindly sponsor my TV documentary film on Secularism and India. This will also boost up your business in India by your AD on TV.
Posted by: Sudarsan Sen Gupta | 10 August 2008 at 11:35 PM