As part of its aggressive global expansion, and to meet growing demand in India, Ford Motor Companyannounced today it will build an integrated manufacturing facility comprising of a state-of-the-art vehicle manufacturing facility and an engine plant in Sanand, Gujarat. Representatives from Ford and the State of Gujarat signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU).
Ford will invest approximately4,000 crore (approximately US$1 billion) in the two facilities, which include stamping, body, paint and assembly operations for vehicle manufacturing, as well as machining and assembly operations for engine manufacturing. The vehicle manufacturing plant will have an initial annual capacity of 240,000 units, and the engine plant will have an initial annual capacity of 270,000 engines. Ford’s investment will also create 5,000 jobs at the new facilities.
The manufacturing operation will be built on a 460-acre site, with adjacent land protected by the local government in order to attract and locate automotive suppliers within close proximity of both plants.
“Namaste Gujarat!” said Joe Hinrichs, president and CEO of Ford Asia Pacific and Africa. “We are delighted to announce that Ford’s newest vehicle manufacturing site will be here in Gujarat. Ford has very aggressive expansion plans in India and in Asia Pacific and Africa, and these two new plants will be important in realizing our growth strategy here in one of the most dynamic regions in the world.”
