Chennai, July 17, 2012: Ford India has completed the expansion of its engine plant, taking its production to 340,000 units per annum. The company invested $72 million (Rs 400 crore) in the project which took 14 months for completion. The additional capacity will help feed the surging demand for diesel powertrains in India and growing exports. Ford plans to make 80,000 additional diesel engines by employing 200 people. The company exports 40 percent of its engine production, either in engine form or as part of a vehicle.
Most of the $72 million investment has gone in creating infrastructure like flexible crankshaft production unit, flexible cold and hot-test benches and the dyno test facility. As the first and only flexi engine line in all of Ford's facilities that can make both diesel and petrol motors, all the fresh infrastructure is aimed at continuing this theme. "We are at an interesting phase of growth with the markets demanding swift responses from manufacturers,” said Michael Boneham, president and managing director, Ford India.
Meanwhile, the EcoSport SUV displayed at the January Auto Expo will come in both petrol and diesel variants. While it is common knowledge that the petrol motor in the EcoSport will be the much-celebrated 1-litre EcoBoost, Boneham did not divulge if a diesel engine will come from Ford's existing line-up. The engine facility also rolled out its 400,000th engine, a petrol motor today.
“To be rolling out the 400,000th engine from the Chennai plant in just under four years is an outstanding achievement, and one that everyone involved should be extremely proud,” said Gary Johnson, vice-president, Manufacturing, Ford Asia-Pacific and Africa. “Ford is currently building seven new plants across Asia Pacific and Africa, and we are making a significant commitment in India, which will see it become a regional hub for low-displacement engine production.”