The American car maker company Ford Motor Co on Tuesday said that it will invest $195 million in Chennai to build a global technology and business center that will utilize as a hub for product development, mobility solutions, and business services for India and other markets throughout the world.
The center will also accommodate the company’s largest information technology organization outside of the company’s global headquarters.
The Ford Motor Co. center in Chennai will be the hub of innovation
“India is not only a vibrant market for cars and new mobility ideas, it is also filled with talent, technical expertise and ingenuity,” executive chairman Bill told Mint. He further added that the new center in Chennai will be a true hub of innovation for the ford across the world.”
Once it gets completed in 2019, then the center will become the third largest product development center in Asia Pacific and part of Ford’s global product development network.
A setup of in-house laboratories for testing will be built
The Ford Motor Co’s center will feature with a range of laboratories and testing facilities for both full vehicles and components and will also enable ford to conduct comprehensive testing of future vehicles, the company said in a statement.
Ford is continuing its struggle in India even after being present in the country for more than 20 years, in which the India market has changed drastically. In 2010-11 and 205-16 the Ford Motor Co annual sales in India have grown only twice. On the other hand sales reached the highest at 98,537 units in 2010-11 because of the Figo but they declined to 92,655 units and 77,225 units in 2011-12 respectively. However, sales grew in 2013-14 and fell in 2014-15 only to rise again in 2015, although on a smaller base.
