Ford and Mahindra joined hands in September last year to explore a strategic alliance. One of the areas of their potential cooperation includes electrification. According to a report from The Times of India, leveraging the partnership, Ford will launch a Ford Aspire Electric sedan in India by next year.
Ford has built and sold EVs for years now, but Mahindra is the one that has the expertise when it comes to low-cost EVs. So, Mahindra has helped Ford develop the pure electric variant of the Ford Aspire entry-level sedan for India. Speaking on the matter, a person in the know-how has said that “Ford has gained tremendously from Mahindra’s strength in electric vehicles technology.”
Divulging further information on the Ford Aspire Electric, the source revealed Ford will not restrict the car’s length to four metres. “The Aspire will be the first to hit the roads and, unlike its existing petrol/diesel version, which is under 4 metres in length, the electric variant will be a longer one,” the source said.
Our speculation is that the reason behind this move is that EVs attract a flat 12% GST, irrespective of their size. Also worth noting, is that Compensation Cess is not levied on them, meaning that automakers can go for any body style (read: even SUVs) without having to worry about higher taxes.
Also Read: 2018 Ford Ka+ (2018 Ford Figo) officially revealed
The Ford Aspire Electric would cost significantly more than the Ford Aspire. So, to make the battery-powered variant look as much of a VFM product as possible, Ford will offer it in a proper sedan-like body. The company already makes a non-sub-4 metre version of the Aspire for the export markets. This version measures 4,254 mm in length, but its wheelbase is the same as that of sub-4 metre version sold in India. Specifications of the pure electric variant are currently unknown.
[Source: The Times of India]
