Carmaker Ford India on Monday said it was looking at multiple platforms, including its existing models in Europe, to foray into Indian small car market.
"We are looking at various options (platforms) for our proposed small car in India. The company may look at a car built on Ford Europe's existing platforms but nothing has been finalised yet," Ford India Vice President Marketing Sales and Service Scott McCormack told reporters at the 9th Auto Expo.
He said apart from Ford's global platforms, the company may also look at bringing in a small car built on its group company Mazda's models. "Bringing in a small car built on Mazda's existing platforms can also be a possibility. We are looking at all possible options," McCormack said without elaborating further.
Ford India had recently announced an investment of 500 million dollars (about Rs 2,000 crore) to expand operations in India, which include rolling out a small car in the country by 2010. The company is also looking at setting up a engine manufacturing facility and doubling its manufacturing capacity in India to 200, 000 units a year by 2010.
The engine manufacturing facility, with a capacity of about 250, 000 lakh units, would produce petrol and diesel versions. It would meet Ford's local requirement and those of its car plants in the Asia-Pacific and Africa region. This would be Ford's first engine plant with diesel engine production capability outside Europe, he said.
