Date:15/10/2004 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/10/15/stories/2004101502330200.htm

Back Ford expects 40 pc increase in sales

Our Bureau

Mr David Friedman, Managing Director and President, Ford India, with Mr Vinay Piparsania, Vice-President, Marketing and Sales, at the launch of the limited edition of the Ford Ikon Anniversary in Chennai on Thursday. — Bijoy Ghosh

Chennai , Oct. 14

FORD India expects its domestic sales to increase by 40 per cent in the current year, compared with its own forecast of 20 per cent. The company expects to sell 27,000 vehicles. In addition, the company would export some 24,000 cars (in knocked down condition), roughly the same level as last year.

The company is celebrating its 5th anniversary. At a function here, the Ford India Managing Director, Mr David Friedman, said in the five years, the company sold 1.9 lakh Ford Ikons. Of this, one lakh Ikons were exported as kits.

To occasionalise its 5th anniversary, the company has launched a new version of Ikon, Anniversary, which has provides high-end version features at low-end version prices. The special limited edition of Anniversary will be available at a "celebratory price of Rs 5 lakh," Mr Friedman said.

Answering a question, he said that the company was able to offer more features for same price because of growing indigenisation and increase in volumes.

Ford cars made in India have 90 per cent of their components from India. The company has just started a second shift to be able to work out higher volumes, he said.