Ford India opens 28 new dealerships in 24 cities in a single day today !!

Dippy · 16th February 2010, 15:24

Ford seems to be taking the small car challenge very seriously. Just before the Figo hits the market next month, Ford has gone all out and opened 28 new dealer facilities in 24 cities across India today. The break up of the new 28 outlets would be:

14 full facility outlets (Showroom, Sales and Service)
7 only service workshops
7 only sales showrooms

This takes the total number of Ford dealerships in the country to 164. The important thing to note here is that most of these outlets are being opened in smaller cities apart from the usual Metros. Ford wants the Figo to reach out to these markets where small cars rule the roost. Ford has also opened a new showroom in the East Delhi Metro Station. This is the first Ford showroom in a Metro Station in Asia Pacific.

All the outlets will offer various packages like Total Maintenance, Extended Warranties, Road Side Assistance and Scheduled Service Plans. Ford is also offering Quick Service where your car's routine service is completed in 90 minutes. Quick service is currently available at 45 dealerships across the country.

I attended the opening of one such outlet this morning at Thane near Mumbai and happened to meet up with Mr. Sandip Sanyal who is the Executive Director Operations, Ford India and had a chat with him on the upcoming Figo and Ford's future plans for India. Some of the highlights from the conversation:

The first Figo has rolled off the Chennai plant on Feb 5th. Launch expected 2nd week of March.
Ford is expecting the Figo to capture a substantial share of the small car market. Expect a really competitive price is what Mr Sanyal said.
The engine facility at Chennai will be producing 1,30,000 engines per year(petrol & diesel combined). These will also be exported to other countries across Asia Pacific. South Africa is also included in this list.
Similarly, India will be the hub for Figo exports to other countries. Though he did not name any specific country, he was quick to add that South Africa is confirmed as of now.
An AT Figo could be a possibility in the future if Ford sees a market for it after the car settles in. We have the technology ready is what Mr. Sanyal said.
85% localisation in the Figo from day 1.

Mr Sandip Sanyal speaking to the media

benbsb29 · 16th February 2010, 15:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dippy

All the outlets will offer various packages like Total Maintenance, Extended Warranties, Road Side Assistance and Scheduled Service Plans. Ford is also offering Quick Service where your car's routine service is completed in 90 minutes. Quick service is currently available at 45 dealerships across the country.

Quick Service... now thats one thing i sorely missed!

A routine service used to takes hours on my car, with the oh-so-busy service centers. Since the dealership was far away from my place, going back home and then returning was a bother, and so i stayed put at the dealer. imagine having to wait from 10 in the morning till 4PM to take the car back home. All this, after prodding from me at regular intervals to please get the thing done on time.

So, any new dealers in Bangalore?

AyAn! · 16th February 2010, 15:30

Way to go Ford! Also expecting VW and Nissan to follow suit.Good to see a Ford showroom coming up in Durgapur!(Banerjee Ford)

suman · 16th February 2010, 15:30

Wow, that's a lot of new outlets! I hope the workshops are staffed with competent people & not the hit & miss variety of workers that one comes across occasionally! And I wonder if the "quick service" of 90 minutes includes the waiting time - I would think not, given our usual experience these days!

Dippy, did you by any chance get any information on the new sedan launch from Ford that a lot of "birdies" are talking about

?

MuraliR · 16th February 2010, 15:32

Initiative to be applauded - definitely shows their committment.

Detail listing, of the new dealerships and service centres, in this thread, will be helpful to members.

Gilead · 16th February 2010, 15:32

Dippy the roving reporter strikes again! Did you get a chance to ask any questions? When is the new Fiesta coming?

I see that that there is no change in the duopoly structure in Chennai. It's the same old MPL and that's not good news for me. I was hoping to get a new dealership/service center from a different business entity.

Dippy · 16th February 2010, 15:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by benbsb29

So, any new dealers in Bangalore?

Nope. No new dealers in Bangalore

Quote:

Originally Posted by suman

Dippy, did you by any chance get any information on the new sedan launch from Ford that a lot of "birdies" are talking about

?

No. Mr Sanyal would not talk about anything but the Figo really

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gilead

Dippy the roving reporter strikes again! Did you get a chance to ask any questions? When is the new Fiesta coming?

Excerpts from my conversation with Mr. Sandip Sanyal in my post above. No news of the new Fiesta just yet.

Latheesh · 16th February 2010, 15:40

Good to see their expansion plans. what are those cities they opened new shop?

Dippy · 16th February 2010, 15:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Latheesh

Good to see their expansion plans. what are those cities they opened new shop?

Apart from the Metros, the other cities would be Salem, Durgapur, Guwahati, Haldwani, Mehsana, Vijaywada, Sangur, Gwalior, Bilsapur, Warangal, Vellore, Malappuram to name a few.

All these dealerships open today.

deepakhon · 16th February 2010, 15:46

Awesome! Ford India seems to be going full steam. All the best to them.

HammerHead · 16th February 2010, 15:48

Thanks for the info Dippy.
Finally Ford India has put forward the right foot!!
I hope they launch some good "Maintenance Plans", similar to Chevy, to gain customers confidence in owning a Ford.

tj123 · 16th February 2010, 15:48

Ford looking really aggressive for FIGO's launch.

Hope the new service setups are upto the mark & the quick service works as promised.

nairrk · 16th February 2010, 15:50

It is good news indeed for Ford car owners and new buyers.
Interesting to see which all places these new showroom rather service centre /workshop coming up!

Latheesh · 16th February 2010, 16:06

Good to see that they are expanding to smaller towns. This may help them to promote FIGO better. But I still doubt the future of FIGO in India, something around 1-1.5K sales per month is sure not more.

svsantosh · 16th February 2010, 16:16

Sheesh!!! Why cant FIAT comeup with some move like this? This surely helps for the 2nd and 3rd tier cities to have a showroom within 50Kms of their home. I remember the only and Early Ford showroom's for a small town like HOSUR was either 350Kms south-east to coimbatore, or 330Kms East to Chennai/Madras.Of course if you wanted a KA Regn car - Blore was only 40Kms to North.

16th February 2010, 15:24	#1
Dippy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 7,808 Thanked: 4,536 Times	Ford India opens 28 new dealerships in 24 cities in a single day today !! Ford seems to be taking the small car challenge very seriously. Just before the Figo hits the market next month, Ford has gone all out and opened 28 new dealer facilities in 24 cities across India today. The break up of the new 28 outlets would be: 14 full facility outlets (Showroom, Sales and Service) 7 only service workshops 7 only sales showrooms This takes the total number of Ford dealerships in the country to 164. The important thing to note here is that most of these outlets are being opened in smaller cities apart from the usual Metros. Ford wants the Figo to reach out to these markets where small cars rule the roost. Ford has also opened a new showroom in the East Delhi Metro Station. This is the first Ford showroom in a Metro Station in Asia Pacific. All the outlets will offer various packages like Total Maintenance, Extended Warranties, Road Side Assistance and Scheduled Service Plans. Ford is also offering Quick Service where your car's routine service is completed in 90 minutes. Quick service is currently available at 45 dealerships across the country. I attended the opening of one such outlet this morning at Thane near Mumbai and happened to meet up with Mr. Sandip Sanyal who is the Executive Director Operations, Ford India and had a chat with him on the upcoming Figo and Ford's future plans for India. Some of the highlights from the conversation: The first Figo has rolled off the Chennai plant on Feb 5th. Launch expected 2nd week of March. Ford is expecting the Figo to capture a substantial share of the small car market. Expect a really competitive price is what Mr Sanyal said. The engine facility at Chennai will be producing 1,30,000 engines per year(petrol & diesel combined). These will also be exported to other countries across Asia Pacific. South Africa is also included in this list. Similarly, India will be the hub for Figo exports to other countries. Though he did not name any specific country, he was quick to add that South Africa is confirmed as of now. An AT Figo could be a possibility in the future if Ford sees a market for it after the car settles in. We have the technology ready is what Mr. Sanyal said. 85% localisation in the Figo from day 1. Mr Sandip Sanyal speaking to the media Last edited by Dippy : 16th February 2010 at 18:06.
	() Thanks

16th February 2010, 15:30	#3
AyAn! Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Durgapur/Calcutta/Pune Posts: 2,169 Thanked: 874 Times	Way to go Ford! Also expecting VW and Nissan to follow suit.Good to see a Ford showroom coming up in Durgapur!(Banerjee Ford)
	() Thanks

16th February 2010, 15:30	#4
suman Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Kolkata Posts: 4,585 Thanked: 281 Times View My Garage	Wow, that's a lot of new outlets! I hope the workshops are staffed with competent people & not the hit & miss variety of workers that one comes across occasionally! And I wonder if the "quick service" of 90 minutes includes the waiting time - I would think not, given our usual experience these days! Dippy, did you by any chance get any information on the new sedan launch from Ford that a lot of "birdies" are talking about? Last edited by suman : 16th February 2010 at 15:33.
	() Thanks

16th February 2010, 15:32	#5
MuraliR BHPian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 361 Thanked: 35 Times	Initiative to be applauded - definitely shows their committment. Detail listing, of the new dealerships and service centres, in this thread, will be helpful to members.
	() Thanks

16th February 2010, 15:32	#6
Gilead Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 2,142 Thanked: 60 Times	Dippy the roving reporter strikes again! Did you get a chance to ask any questions? When is the new Fiesta coming? I see that that there is no change in the duopoly structure in Chennai. It's the same old MPL and that's not good news for me. I was hoping to get a new dealership/service center from a different business entity.
	() Thanks

16th February 2010, 15:40	#8
Latheesh Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: CNN/BLR Posts: 4,341 Thanked: 10,642 Times	Good to see their expansion plans. what are those cities they opened new shop?
	() Thanks

16th February 2010, 15:46	#10
deepakhon Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,441 Thanked: 77 Times	Awesome! Ford India seems to be going full steam. All the best to them.
	() Thanks

16th February 2010, 15:48	#11
HammerHead Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Goan in Pune Posts: 1,254 Thanked: 653 Times View My Garage	Thanks for the info Dippy. Finally Ford India has put forward the right foot!! I hope they launch some good "Maintenance Plans", similar to Chevy, to gain customers confidence in owning a Ford.
	() Thanks

16th February 2010, 15:48	#12
tj123 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: BLR Posts: 1,166 Thanked: 704 Times	Ford looking really aggressive for FIGO's launch. Hope the new service setups are upto the mark & the quick service works as promised. Last edited by tj123 : 16th February 2010 at 15:50. Reason: typo
	() Thanks

16th February 2010, 15:50	#13
nairrk Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Kannur Posts: 2,447 Thanked: 688 Times View My Garage	It is good news indeed for Ford car owners and new buyers. Interesting to see which all places these new showroom rather service centre /workshop coming up!
	() Thanks

16th February 2010, 16:06	#14
Latheesh Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: CNN/BLR Posts: 4,341 Thanked: 10,642 Times	Good to see that they are expanding to smaller towns. This may help them to promote FIGO better. But I still doubt the future of FIGO in India, something around 1-1.5K sales per month is sure not more.
	() Thanks

16th February 2010, 16:16	#15
svsantosh Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dubai Posts: 4,293 Thanked: 8,093 Times View My Garage	Sheesh!!! Why cant FIAT comeup with some move like this? This surely helps for the 2nd and 3rd tier cities to have a showroom within 50Kms of their home. I remember the only and Early Ford showroom's for a small town like HOSUR was either 350Kms south-east to coimbatore, or 330Kms East to Chennai/Madras.Of course if you wanted a KA Regn car - Blore was only 40Kms to North.
	() Thanks