Ford shelves development of Honda City rival

American automaker’s Ford’s Indian arm Ford India has shelved the development of the sedan currently being built on the B500 platform. The sedan was expected to rival the Honda City, Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, Skoda Rapid and the Volkswagen Vento.

Besides the Ford, the General Motors have also revised its $1 billion investment plan in India. The current market movement comprising of the sudden changes in the market, the shift towards petrol engines and the NGT’s diesel crackdowns have forced many automakers to contemplate their product plans.

The Honda City competitor from the Ford would have taken a couple of years to arrive but now as the Ford shelved it, the sedan is not likely to arrive anytime soon. The American automobile giant would have replaced the underperforming Ford Fiesta with the sedan to be built on the B500 platform. However, the key focus would remain on strengthening the existing product line up of the Ford.

The Ford tasted some success with the sub-4-meter compact SUV Ford Ecosport but the success was soon gulped down by the launch of the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza and plenty of other crossovers. The Ford Figo didn’t revive the American carmaker’s prospects in India either. Even the recently launched Mustang GT is a niche segment car, which won’t drive heavy volume sales, while the Ford Endeavour is not of any help either in driving volume sales.

The Ford may be likely to build on the Ford EcoSport, despite stiff competition in the compact SUV segment. The Figo and Aspire may be updated with touchscreen infotainment systems as well. However, experts say that the Ford may do better by catering to more of Indian tastes, as does the Renault with the Kwid to drive heavy volume sales in the entry and mid-level segments.

Source: vicky.in