Ford Endeavour Coming Back To India? Let’s Find Out The Facts Behind The Rumours،
The online community is abuzz following the revelation that Ford has filed a patent for the highly anticipated all-new Endeavor. Despite its global debut in 2022, the third-generation Ford Endeavor never reached Indian shores due to Ford suspending vehicle production in 2021. However, the recent filing of a design patent for the new Endeavor in India suggests a potential resumption of sales operations. by Ford in the country, particularly in the large SUV segment.
Ford India Job Opportunities
Amid growing anticipation, Ford has sparked fresh speculation by releasing a series of new job opportunities in places like Chennai. These developments suggest a potential resumption of vehicle assembly activities at Ford. The majority of these job postings focus on technical positions, suggesting the automaker's interest in resuming operations at its Chennai plant.
Ford rivals
Despite successfully selling its Sanand plant to Tata Motors in 2022, Ford has faced difficulties finding a buyer for its Chennai plant. Despite rumors of automakers like MG, VinFast and Tata Motors expressing interest in acquiring the plant, no concrete developments have emerged. Notably, the deal between Ford and MG reportedly fell through, prompting the company to reconsider the sale.
The potential success of job postings for its Chennai manufacturing plant could mark Ford's return to vehicle production at the plant after a hiatus of about three years. Ford had halted manufacturing and sales of vehicles in India in 2021, citing losses exceeding $2 billion since operations began in 1996. Despite this, Ford clarified that it was not exiting the Indian market but rather undertaking a strategic restructuring of its activity. This restructuring involved the abandonment of its existing vehicle range, which included models like Figo, Aspire, Freestyle, Ecosport and second generation Endeavor.
In case the resurgence reports prove accurate, Ford is set to re-enter the Indian auto market with the third generation Endeavor, expected around 2025. There are indications that Ford may consider assembling locally the Endeavor at its Chennai factory. This trend towards local assembly takes on importance as Ford has chosen not to pursue discussions with JSW for the potential transfer of the plant.
Features of the Ford Endeavor
It's also possible that Ford could explore the Completely Built (CBU) model route, considering importing the Endeavor from Thailand. This approach would exempt them from the certification requirement for up to 2,500 units per year. While this strategy could lead to a considerably higher price compared to previous models, it could still position the Endeavor competitively in the price range of the premium variants of its main competitor, the Toyota Fortuner. Notably, Fortuner prices saw a significant increase after the discontinuation of the second-generation Endeavor in 2021.
Launching globally in 2022, the third generation Ford Endeavor features a more muscular and premium appearance with enhanced features. Notable additions include a full TFT instrument console, wireless charger, ventilated front seats, larger portrait infotainment screen and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Internationally, the Ford Endeavor offers a range of engine options, including 2.0-litre single-turbo and twin-turbo diesel engines, as well as a robust 3.0-litre V6 diesel powertrain.
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