Ford announced today the opening of its second plant in India, which will be used to produce the new Ford Figo Aspire compact sedan for now to the Indian market as well as export to other countries around the world. The 460 acres facility was built at an investment of US$1 billion, bringing with it 4,000 new jobs for India. The plant’s full capacity is 2,40,000 cars and 2,70,000 engines per annum, Ford’s total capacity in the country would rise to 6,10,000 engines and 4,40,000 vehicles per annum.
Ford Figo Aspire to be the first car to roll-out from the Sanand plant.
The company claimed, the vehicle manufacturing plant in Sanand is one of the most highly automated plants of the company across the globe. Anurag Mehrotra, executive director, marketing sales and service, Ford India said that while the body shop is 95 per cent automated, the paint shop is almost fully automated. “This apart, there are 125 stations along the production line that have been set up for quality checks,” he said adding that there were about 437 robots in all in the Sanand facility.
The launch of Ford’s integrated manufacturing facility was attended by Smt. Anandiben Patel, Honourable Chief Minister of Gujarat in presence of Sh. Saurabhbhai Patel, Minister of Finance and Sh. Vijaybhai Rupani, Minister of Transport along with senior officials from the government of Gujarat.
The Figo Aspire during its assembly process at Sanand plant.
Speaking at the new plant, Mr. Mark Fields said:
“With today’s opening of our plant in Sanand, we have taken our growth commitment to a new high in India. We are doubling our manufacturing capacity in India, creating good jobs and serving our customers around the world with great products.”
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Also see: Production-Spec 2015 Ford Figo sedan (Ka+) unveiled for Brazil
GALLERY: Ford’s Sanand Plant
Image Credit: The Car & Bike Show (on Facebook)
