Date:10/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/10/stories/2006081003761800.htm

Business

Ford rolls out all-new Fusion

Special Correspondent

Plans to launch CNG powered Ikon by next month

NEW DELHI: Rolling out the all-new Fusion in the Indian market and striving to leverage further the success of its sedan Fiesta, Ford Motor India on Wednesday exuded confidence to push up its sales by 100 per cent this year. It also unveiled its plans to launch a CNG-driven Ikon by next month.

Buoyed over good response to the Fiesta rolled out in November last, the company claimed to have already crossed the total sales figure of 2005 by June this year, spurring hopes about doubling the sale in 2006.

"We sold around 25,000 units last year and this year, we have crossed this number by June itself. We feel that going by this rate, we will end 2006 with a near 100 per cent growth in year-on-year sales,'' Ford India President and Managing Director Arvind Mathew said at a press conference here.

He said the average monthly sales of the Fiesta now ranged between 2,500 and 3,000 units.

The new version of the Fusion will be marketed aggressively as its prices have been slashed by around Rs. 60,000.

The latest version carries a price tag of Rs. 5.69 lakh (ex-showroon Delhi).

The latest offering has a powerful engine coupled with intelligent drive-by-wire technology providing high low-end torque, faster acceleration and superior fuel efficiency.