Ford India, on Thursday, said that it would launch a second production shift at its plant near here. The move followed tremendous response to the just-launched Ford Figo, said a release from the company. Ford Figo, the release said, had received more than 10,000 orders less than one month after it went on sale.
The Figo launch helped Ford India's overall March sales more than triple from the same month a year ago, rising an impressive 203 per cent to 9,478 units. The exceptional March performance, which also included strong sales of Ford Ikon, Ford Fiesta, and Ford Endeavour, were nearly triple Ford India's February sales, increasing 194 per cent.
“We are delighted at the initial response to Figo, and are incredibly proud to have struck such a positive chord with Indian consumers,” the release quoted Michael Boneham, President and Managing Director of Ford India, as saying. “The launch of Figo is the start of a transformed Ford in India, and a true reflection of our commitment to delivering world-class products that allow Indian customers to feel the difference,” the release quoted him saying.
Part of Ford's $500 million investment in India, Figo was designed and engineered with Indian customers in mind – including months of exhaustive customer clinic research and thorough testing in both simulated and actual road evaluations.
Aimed at more than 70 percent of the country's new vehicle market, Figo had significantly bolstered Ford’s competitive position, the release claimed.