Ford India’s compact SUV, the EcoSport, appears headed for a longer waiting period – it is about eight months now – as the company comes to grip with some apparent supplier glitches.
At the launch of the Ford Figo compact sedan concept in Delhi, Nigel Harris, who has just taken over as head of Ford India, indicated that the company has not yet been able to kick off a third shift at the Chennai plant as some materials are not available. He said: “We are looking at different ways to increase production. We are capable of starting the third shift but we need the material for it. Once we understand what material we have got, then we can meet the demand.”
Our sister publication, Autocar Professional, has now learnt that without these material supplies that include trim and metal parts, among others, Ford India is finding it difficult to run a second shift, let alone a third. Around 350 EcoSports are made in one shift.
It is understood that dealers are not taking bookings for the automatic version as well as some Titanium petrol and diesel variants. With 60,000 bookings for the EcoSport, Ford India will be pulling out all stops to ensure that it can ramp up output to meet buyer demand.