Ford India starts shipping Figo to South Africa

Ford India yesterday flagged-off a consignment of 1,200 units of its compact car Figo,  for export to South Africa, further burnishing India's image as an emerging hub for auto manufacturning.

The Figo, which the company rolls out of its Chennai plant, will be exported in 1.4L petrol an diesel variants to Ford Motor Company of  Southern Africa, according to an official release issued in Chennai.

The company will export over 5,000 cars by this year, according to the release.

''Given the rising demand worldwide for compact vehicles, we plan to accelerate our export strategy to not only enhance our business growth but also to further embellish India's reputation as a major regional auto manufacturing hub," Ford India's president and managing director, Michael Boneham, said.

The Figo was launched in March this year and the company has so far received orders for 24,000  units of the car. Besides South Africa, Ford India also services markets in Thailand.

Boneham added that in addition to being a sales chart topper, the Ford Figo is the first small car to be produced and exported by Ford India and the South Africa bound consignment was an exciting new development for the company.