BUOYED by all-new EcoSport, Ford sales up 14 percent

Jalandhar, July 3, 2013: Ford India sold 8,771 vehicles in combined wholesales and exports in June as it expanded its stable of global One Ford vehicles with the launch of the All-new Ford EcoSport.

Ford India sold 7,145 vehicles in the domestic market boosted by the launch of All-new Ford EcoSport, a surge of 14 percent year on year, in a market where macroeconomic factors and high interest rates continue to negatively affect consumer demand. The company had sold 6,267 units domestically in June last year.

Exports rose 59 percent in June to 1,626 vehicles from 1,024 vehicles a year earlier as demand for Ford’s India-built vehicles rose overseas.

Ford launched India’s most eagerly awaited urban SUV – the All-new Ford EcoSport reinforcing its commitment to a long-term product led growth strategy in India, despite ongoing subdued market conditions.

“The surge in Ford India’s domestic wholesales and exports is a strong indicator of customers' acceptance of our quality products with smart features that they truly want and value. Going further with our global One Ford strategy to deliver great products, we’ve launched the All-new Ford EcoSport at a compelling value for money proposition, offering a great power of choice to customers from several segments,” said Vinay Piparsania, Ford India’s executive director, Marketing, Sales and Service.

The All-new Ford EcoSport is available in 10 variants, including three fuel-efficient yet powerful engine options and four trim levels. The two-time ‘International Engine of the Year’ – the three-cylinder 1.0L EcoBoost – debuts in India with the EcoSport, offering consumers small-engine efficiency with the power of a much larger 1.6L four-cylinder engine.

In another first for India, the All-new Ford EcoSport introduces Ford’s SYNC integrated communications and entertainment technology. Powered by Microsoft, SYNC gives consumers seamless connectivity on the go. With an eye on world-class safety, Ford is also introducing to India the potentially lifesaving Emergency Assistance system, which uses SYNC and the occupant’s paired mobile phone to automatically call for emergency assistance in the event of an accident.

With the launch of the All-new Ford EcoSport, Ford marked the end of the EcoSport Urban Discoveries campaign held in the run-up to the vehicle’s introduction. The ‘Mumbai Boys’ team was declared the campaign’s winner, giving its members the unique distinction of owning the very first EcoSport in India.

The launch of the urban SUV EcoSport follows Ford’s US$142 million investment to enhance its Chennai manufacturing facility.