[volkman10]

Mahindra and Ford have announced that they will be jointly developing two new SUVs for India, as well as other emerging markets.

The next-gen Mahindra XUV will share its underpinnings with an all-new new Ford SUV. Both vehicles, however, will have uniquely designed top-hats. Also, under evaluation is an all-new compact SUV that will be developed jointly. The companies are also considering using Mahindra powertrains for future Ford models

Also in the pipeline is an electric vehicle, an electric vehicle based on the Ford Aspire but will use the Mahindra EV powertrain.

link

[shashanka]

Saw the following from Motor Beam this afternoon:

Upcoming Mahindra sedan to be based on Ford Aspire platform, will be an EV.


"Mahindra and Ford announced an alliance in September 2017 and recently signed not one not two but five MoUs for jointly developing two new SUVs, a small EV and connected car solutions. As per the alliance, the next generation Mahindra XUV500 will share its platform with an all-new Ford SUV whereas Mahindra will get access to Ford’s B562 (Aspire) platform for the development of an electric sedan.

The B562 platform currently underpins the Ford Figo and Aspire. The two automakers coming together expect to reduce the product development timeline. Mahindra needs a new generation architecture to address the EV sedan portfolio for the future, especially for customers like Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL), a JV of state-owned companies under the power ministry.

Mahindra’s acquisition of Reva clearly gives it a headstart in the nascent Indian EV market. Currently, there are three EVs on offer, two in the passenger vehicles segment (e2o Plus and e-Verito) and one in the LCV segment (e-Supro). The automaker is geared up to launch an all-electric variant of the KUV100, called the e-KUV100. A report from December 2017 states that the company is planning to introduce three new EVs (one of which is the e-KUV100) in India by 2020."

[RavenAvi]

ACI clarifies more details, via an exclusive, on the Ford-Mahindra alliance - as many as FIVE new SUVs are being jointly developed by the two auto giants, as well as an electric version of the Aspire sedan.

The joint venture will build five all-new SUVs as well as an electric version of the Ford Aspire compact sedan. In addition, there will be collaborations in powertrains too. Both Ford and Mahindra are focusing on the compact SUV segment with three out of the five new products being less than four metres long.
Ford is developing a Vitara Brezza rival (codename: B763) which will lead the line-up, followed by the next-gen Ecosport (codename: B680), scheduled for 2020. Another addition to the range will be Mahindra's SsangYong Tivoli (codename: S201)-based compact SUV which will also wear a Ford badge. Further up, there will be a Hyundai Creta challenger (codename: B563) to tap the mid-size SUV market, and then Ford’s new C-segment SUV, based on Mahindra’s W601 - essentially the next-generation XUV500 - that will be positioned above Creta. The new W601’s platform will be developed jointly by Mahindra, SsangYong and Ford. However, the models will wear individual 'top hats' for their respective makers and will correspondingly be different in look.
An integral part of the alliance is the electric version of the Ford Aspire that will use technology from Mahindra's EV division, Mahindra Electric.
The powertrain-sharing aspect of the Mahindra-Ford JV could see Ford’s C-segment SUV use Mahindra’s next-gen BSVI-compliant 2.0-litre diesel, while Ford’s new Dragon petrol engine could be a workhorse for all M&M’s compact models.

[volkman10]

Mahindra & Mahindra, Ford likely to ride together as JV partners.

The proportion of shareholding will see Ford's holding at 49% and M&M's stake 51%

there will be potential joint venture that will be formed. The proportion of shareholding will see Ford's holding at 49 per cent and M&M's stake 51 per cent , the channel claimed. The two firms are likely to share vehicle architecture, technology and will try to leverage each other’s distribution network.

Link

[volkman10]

Mahindra in talks with Ford to collaborate for the market of Indonesia, Russia and South Africa.

South East Asia is one of the key emerging market cluster where Mahindra does not have a presence and Ford may help maker of Scorpio to enter the critical markets of Indonesia or Thailand, likewise in Russia.

On the products front, Ford is likely to offer its compact car platform B562 to Mahindra to use it for electric sedan and it is likely to use Mahindra’s new generation XUV platform W601 for a C segment SUV in the future.

Link

[arunphilip]

Originally Posted by volkman10

[Ford] is likely to use Mahindra’s new generation XUV platform W601 for a C segment SUV in the future.

Ah, that just kills all chances of us seeing the Ford Escape/Kuga here. Sigh.

[volkman10]

SUV, electric vehicles under Mahindra-Ford tie up soon

A sports utility vehicle (SUV) to be developed as per the agreement signed between diversified conglomerate Mahindra Group and Ford Motor company was expected to hit the market soon.

Link

[tosathyas]

M&M had divorced Ford earlier then Renault then Navistar then kinetic/sym in the past. How is it managing to instill confidence when they enter into new one

[volkman10]

Mahindra and Ford Sign Agreements on Powertrain Sharing and Connected Car Solutions.

Mahindra Group will develop and supply a low-displacement petrol engine to Ford India for use in its present and future vehicles, starting in 2020

The BS-VI compliant powertrain will help Ford extend and strengthen its existing offering of petrol engines, that currently includes the all-new 3-cylinder TiVCT family.

Apart from sharing engines and telematic solutions, both companies are working intensively on utilising each other's vehicle architectures to spawn out multiple cars and SUVs in the future.

Ford and Mahindra are also exploring utilising each other's factory and sales network in India and other emerging markets.

The question remains though will India strategy fit in Ford's long term vision or will it exit at some point of time in the future?

Link

[GTO]

Originally Posted by volkman10

Mahindra and Ford Sign Agreements on Powertrain Sharing and Connected Car Solutions.

I am a bit perplexed by this news.

1. It is Ford that has excellent petrol engines. Their new triple-cylinder motors (1.2L & 1.5L especially) are fantastic. On the other hand, all the Mahindra petrols I've driven so far have been lame. So why is Ford looking to source petrol engines from Mahindra? It's like Fiat saying it wants to buy a 1.3L diesel from others.

Furthermore, Ford has many more petrols to choose from in its global portfolio. From small engines to big V8s.

2. Mahindra & Ford to work together on 'connected vehicle' tech??? Again, Ford USA is heavily investing in connected vehicles. All Ford India has to do is cut-copy-paste the tech for India.

IMHO, this is a lame announcement to just show "something" of the partnership (similar to the rebadged Balenos from Maruti-Toyota). There is a possibility that Mahindra will acquire a majority stake in Ford India because Ford globally has made it clear that it has no time or money to waste. To such an extent that they are going to stop selling small cars & sedans in the USA! Ford India has run losses for 2 decades now. Take away the recent focus on exports and it'll bleed heavily.

[R2D2]

These guys worked together in the past and the outcome wasn't a shining success. Anybody remember the collaboration produced a Ford Escort in the 1990s? I've known Escort customers who cursed them to kingdom come after the partnership split and they were left with vehicles with terrible resale value and bare bones service and support. Much the way GM screwed its customers and dealers in India.

I am at a loss to understand what exactly Ford hopes to derive from this partnership. They are light years ahead of M&M globally in terms of product design and portfolio, R&D, technology and even quality.

I take these partnerships with a large pinch of salt. IMHO Toyota-Suzuki, Ford-Mahindra, et al are all harbingers of a takeover OR an exit plan. So, is Ford planning to exit India in the mid term leaving M&M with the baby in its hands? Buyer beware.

[bkc]

One thing that caught my eye is, Ford seeking help for BS6 petrol engine from Mahindra.

AFAIK, Mahindra is known for great diesel engines and ford, as we know, have a Dragon Engine plant and even the awarded 1 ltr Ecoboost with them.

Then Why Mahindra's help on Small petrol?

By the I Could post, GTO had the same point.

Kindly delete my post if repeating the same.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by R2D2

So, is Ford planning to exit India in the mid term leaving M&M with the baby in its hands? Buyer beware.

I think Ford wants to stick around, but without the baggage & overheads. ET Prime had recently run a story on Mahindra taking a majority stake in Ford India - link to article.

With its ROCE of just 0.9% and accumulated losses of INR4,662 crore, Ford India should be happy even if it gets as little as INR2,000 crore in exchange for 51% stake.

[R2D2]

Originally Posted by GTO

I think Ford wants to stick around, but without the baggage & overheads. ET Prime had recently run a story on Mahindra taking a majority stake in Ford India

I signed up for ET Prime and read that article. But I am not convinced Ford has long term plans for India given their losses and measly single digit market share even after 2 decades. So, in the meantime they apply a band-aid & reduce the pain by selling a 51% stake to M&M for Rs 2K Cr turning into a passenger instead of a driver in the partnership. Now, what does that do to brand 'Ford' in this country?

I speak from personal experience with the former Fiat-Tata alliance, an automobile industry "Frankenstein" if there was one, that IMO benefited nobody least of all Fiat vehicle owners. Fiat botched it up so bad resulting in what I believe is irrecoverable damage to its reputation in this country. I truly hope Ford is not heading towards the same path as either FCA or GM. Fingers crossed.

[sukiwa]

Mahindra engines to be heart of Ford Ecosport.

Source, news excerpt

A senior official at M&M confirmed that a new small capacity petrol engine developed by the company will debut on the Ecosport, as well as the upcoming Ssangyong Tivoli-based Mahindra SUV, which will hit the market in the final quarter of this year.

The S201 will have both petrol and diesel engine options. The petrol engine of S201 will also be shared with the Ecosport made by Ford. Both engines will be BS-VI compliant," said Pawan Goenka, Managing Director, Mahindra & Mahindra.