The Hindu Business Line : Ford mulls expansion of hybrid car production

Mr William Clay Ford Jr, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer , Ford Motor Company, presenting a model car to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Ms Jayalalithaa, at the Secretariat in Chennai on Wednesday. — V. Ganesan

Chennai , Oct. 26

FORD Motor Company is seriously evaluating expanded production of hybrid cars, its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr William Clay Ford Jr, indicated during a meeting with the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Ms J. Jayalalithaa, here today.

A State Government press release said that Ms Jayalalithaa enquired as to what Mr Ford perceived would be the changes in automobile manufacture in the context of soaring fuel prices and the company's plans for hybrid cars.

Mr Ford told the Chief Minister that the company had introduced hybrid cars in the US market and was considering expanding production of these cars in view of the petroleum crisis, the release said.

It said that Mr Ford also expressed the view that bio-fuels were here to stay and would be increasingly used in all markets and it was necessary for automobile manufacturers to incorporate this development in their plans. Mr Ford also visualised hydrogen as a fuel of the future and predicted increased research to make this feasible.

Ms Jayalalithaa requested Mr Ford to think of expansion of Ford India's plant at Maraimalai Nagar, near here, to make it a global sourcing hub.

Mr Ford, on a two-day visit to the country on the occasion of the global launch of Ford India's sedan, Fiesta, called on the Chief Minister at the Secretariat today. He was accompanied by Mr Mark Schulz, Executive Vice-President, Asia-Pacific Operations; Mr Peter Daniel, Chief Operating Officer, Asia-Pacific and India; Mr Jim Vella, Chief of Staff, Ford Motor Company; and Mr Arvind Mathew, Managing Director and President, Ford India Pvt Ltd.

During his stay in Chennai, Mr Ford inaugurated a larger showroom of MPL Ford, one of Ford India's dealers in Chennai. The showroom is spread over 5,000 sq ft and represents Ford's Brand@Retail - a global Ford initiative to ensure that all its dealer showrooms have a uniform look, according to Mr S. Ravindranathan, Dealer Principal of MPL Ford.

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