While Indians await the launch of the Ford Ecosport, official news comes in from Indonesia that the mini SUV will be launched there this year.
Just like Ford India, Ford Indonesia haven't divulged the launch date, not even a tentative month or period. So the Indonesians can now officially start waiting for the EcoSport.
Mr. Bagus Susanto, Managing Director of Ford Indonesia, while addressing a group of reporters, confirmed that the EcoSport will be launched in 2013. He added that the EcoSport is one of the 8 One Ford products earmarked for the ASEAN countries.
He declined to throw light on the engines but we expect the 1.0 litre EcoBoost turbo petrol engine to be the prime choice. There is a strong possibility that the Ford EcoSport for Indonesia could be shipped from India rather than from Thailand where the start of production is a while way.
The EcoSport is not the first utility vehicle to be shipped to Indonesia from India. The Maruti Suzuki Ertiga's CKD kits are being shipped from here and also the Renault Duster, which would mark Renault's comeback in Indonesia this year, would sail from India (India is the only RHD plant in the world for the Duster, and Indonesia follows the RHD rule).
Year 2013 will see the Ford EcoSport going truly global by entering emerging and developed markets. South Africa, Middle East and today Indonesia, have confirmed the EcoSport for 2013. Hopefully, India would get the whole range of variants of the SUV before efforts at Maraimalai Nagar turn towards satisfying overseas demand.
[Source: Gatra.com]
