We caught up with Ford India's outgoing Managing Director Michael Boneham for the last time yesterday in Chennai where we got a chance to ask him about the future of the Figo.
Besides telling Indian Autos Blog to keep working hard, he may have left us another compliment in the form of a hidden message.
If you have been reading the news, you know Ford is working on a 'Value B' car in China to wage a war against the Chevrolet Sail, China's second best selling car. The 'Value B' will sit under the Fiesta hatch and if it has to take on the Sail, it needs to have exceptional space and fuel economy, and is likely to exceed the Fiesta in these departments.
And if you read between Michael Boneham's lines, you will understand that 'Figo' is the branding that is very likely to be used on the 'Value B' -
We've said all our future products are going to be global products. So whether it is Figo as it is, or Figo in a different form, B cars are going to be a big part, 'value B cars' are going to be a big part of the future. The Figo is already in 35 countries, and its already global, and that's how we intend to go as we move forward.
Boneham did not comment on the next generation Endeavour that's under development in Australia.
Based on the new Ranger platform, the new Endeavour is certainly nearing its launch date, right Michael?
Suffice to say that the Endeavour is an important part of our stable moving forward. It's successful not just here in India, but in Asia. You'll see news about it in the future but I won't say about what it'll be like!
Boneham added that India, as an auto market, has moved from the fringes to the center of the radar back at the Blue Oval headquarters in the U.S.
