Ford India begins export of compact car Figo

Flags off first consignment to South Africa; looks at other markets.

Chennai: Ford Figo, the compact car from Ford India, is going international.

The first consignment of 1,200 Figos was flagged off to Durban, South Africa, from the Chennai port by Ford India's President and Managing Director, Mr Michael Boneham, in the presence of the Chairman of Chennai Port Trust, Capt Subhash Kumar.

There is an order for 5,000 Figos from South Africa. “We are also looking at other emerging markets for Figo and will soon announce the new destinations other than the US and Europe,” he told newspersons at the Chennai port.

Export hub

The Indian plant will be the only Ford unit to export Figos. “We want to make India the export hub for Figo,” he said.

Ford India will export the 1.4-litre petrol and diesel Figo variants to Ford Motor Company of South Africa.

“Just as the Figo has taken the Indian market by storm, we are confident that it will have a similar impact in South Africa,” said Mr Boneham, who will be in South Africa shortly to receive the consignment.

It will take two weeks for the vehicles to reach Durban through the ro-ro ship operated by K-Line, the Japanese shipping line.

Since its debut in March, the Ford Figo has generated over 24,000 purchase orders for Ford India. In June, Ford India sold 7,269 units compared with 1,982 units in June 2009, a 267 per cent rise. Mr Boneham said Ford India had been exporting the ‘Fiesta' in the last four years.

It also exports nearly 2,500 engines a month to Thailand, where the Ford unit in the country will soon launch the Fiesta.

Mr Boneham said Ford India today commenced its second shift at the company's plant in Maraimalai Nagar near Chennai to meet the increasing demand for Figo. This will increase the production capacity of the small car by 30-40 per cent.

The company plans to hire 600-700 personnel at the plant and most of them would be diploma holders and fresh pass-outs.

Ford India manufactures Ikon, Endeavour, Fiesta and Figo. It employs around 4,000 people.