Ford India announces commmencement of engine exports to Thailand
15 Jun 2010
Chennai: Ford India, the wholly owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company, today today said it had exported the first batch of 1,000 of its 1.4L and 1.6L high- compression petrol engines under its engine export programme.
The engines, manufactured at Ford's Maraimalai Nagar engine facility near Chennai, have been shipped to its sister manufacturing plant, AutoAlliance Thailand. the company said it has been exporting diesel power trains to South Africa since 2008.
"The first shipment of 1,000 petrol engines is a significant first step in our goal to become a major production and export hub of diesel and petrol engines," said Michael Boneham, president and managing director, Ford India.
The comp0any plans to raise the number of engines to be exported to 2,500 per month, and continue to rise as the projected export demand gradually increases by the end of 2010 and into 2011.
In addition to the AAT facility, Ford India will export engines to other Ford plants in Asia Pacific, including those already being sent to South Africa.
The company disclosed that it was also currently discussing and reviewing export opportunities for vehicles and power train components to markets within Ford's Asia Pacific and Africa region.