Indian Autos blog

At a recent conference, IndianAutosBlog.com sat down with Ford India’s President and Managing Director, Mr Michael Boneham to discuss about the paradigm shift in consumer preference towards diesel cars. We fired our questions and Mr Boneham wasn’t the one to shy away or show nervousness on the facts and reality.

IAB – What is your view on the rapidly changing diesel:petrol ratio? How is Ford India coping with this shift?

MB – It’s not easy; But we got to work with the supply base. Fortunately we have a flexible engine plant both able to be made (petrol and diesel) on the same assembly line (in Chennai). That helps us but its more in the supply base. We are working with the supply base to break the constraints. For instance this month we will produce double the number of diesels for the Fiesta that we did last month.

For the Figo there’s a long waiting list for diesel. We anticipate that in 2-3 months we’ll clear the congestion.

IAB – What about EcoBoost technology? With this shift is there any change of plans?

MB – I think its all about fuel economy, performance and price positioning. Ecoboost engines are still more expensive than normal engines because of direct injection and turbocharging (technologies). What we need to do is make the examination of is there a consumer demand and pull for that level of technology in here? It gives unbelievable fuel economy, same level of hybrid so we’re looking at it very closely but we’ve still go to get the pull from the customers before we put the investment to bring it in.

click through to read more

Ford India has achieved an important marker in its Chennai plant. The company announced that yesterday it had rolled out its 1,00,000th engine from its manufacturing plant at Chennai – a feat that was achieved in just 14 months after the engine plant was erected. Ford India President and Managing Director, Michael Boneham – This world-class manufacturing facility reinforces our intent and commitment to compete with great products and powertrains  [ Read More ]

Coming close on the heels of the Figo’s immense popularity with over 58,000 units sold in past eight months, this industry-wide recognition truly establishes it as a performance car.

A happy Michael Boneham (President and Managing Director of Ford India) comments after winning receiving the Indian Car of The Year award (ICOTY) for the Ford Figo last evening.

About forty percent now of all of the people who buy Figo are first time car buyers. So if we do this right it is a huge opportunity for us to hold those car buyers through their lifecycle of their car purchasing life.

Michael Boneham, president and managing director of Ford India revealed in a chat at the Australian School of Business.

We have launched the Figo, we are working on a new car, and plan to have eight new products by mid decade. These will be global platforms, and will be smaller vehicles rather than larger vehicles.

Michael Boneham, Ford India’s president and managing director tells Sify about the company’s much talked about plans for this decade.

Ford India is riding high on the success of its mini car the Figo. After literally wasting time for almost a decade on the sidelines of the Indian Automotive Industry, it is finally taken the centre stage and is showing all the signs of a very interested and focused player.

Ford has invested close to a billion dollars in India so far, it expanded its plant capacity 2 years back, built a flexi engine plant and launched the Figo at a terrific price tag.

We told you earlier and we tell you again that Ford has confirmed that it will launch 8 new models in the country by 2015. It also said that it will be making India as the export hub for its cars. The Figo is being exported to South Africa currently where it has received a phenomenal response and the company plans to now export cars to 50 more markets including African countries and also to Mexico from India.

Another interesting point that Michael Boneham (MD, Ford India) made at the launch of the Endeavour 4 x 2 Automatic was that the 15- 20 lakh segment is also crucial for them. He said that they are working out plans to be a serious player in that segment too.

Boneham also said that Ford India will be hiring more work force in the near future.

Ford India has struck gold with the Figo which is managing 6,000-7,000units a month. Since the Ford Figo’s launch, it has sold more than 17,000 units.

Ford had recently began engine exports form it Chennai plant to Thailand and South Africa. Soon after Ford has considerably cleared the delivery backlog of the Figo, Ford would begin exports of the Figo. The first overseas market for the Figo would be South Africa.

Ford would also be exporting the Figo to other Asian markets.

Michael Boneham, President and MD, Ford India in an interview with Rediff -

The Ford story is not about supporting the domestic market, but overseas too. I am excited. In the very near future, we will be sending the first load of Figos to South Africa. That is the first overseas market. In the next 3-4 weeks, we will announce the names of other markets where Figo will be going. They are mainly in the Asia Pacific and Africa region and a couple of other areas as well.

Boneham indicates the company would not be solely concentrating on the small car segment. Depending upon the market growth and response Ford India could launch new products.

Ford India’s future vehicles -

> European Ford Fiesta sedan

> Ford mini-SUV, sub-10 lakhs, based on the Figo

> Ford Endeavour next gen

> Ford compact MPV

> Ford Focus

The Josh Machine is back! Just when everyone was thinking that the Ford Ikon would fade into oblivion, many spy shots have surfaced on the internet and so did numerous renderings. After all that, Ford officially launched the refreshed Ford Ikon in India today. The face is shared with the Ford Bantam pickup, which is a pickup version of the Ikon sold in South Africa. The pure drivers car still  [ Read More ]