The Detroit based company plans to invest over $1 billion (Rs 5,000 crore) for the unit, which will come next to Tata Motors' Nano plant. The plant is slated to open in 2014 and employ around 5,000 workers.
The state government is likely to allocate 400 acres of land at lowerthan-market rates to the company. An additional 100 acres will be set aside for component manufacturing units.
Ford India, the US carmaker's Indian subsidiary, already runs a Rs 1,700-crore manufacturing plant at Maraimalai Nagar, 45 km from Chennai, with a peak capacity of 2 lakh units per annum. With Ford deciding to drive into Gujarat, the state has fast started to emerge as a claimant for the title, 'Detroit of India' . Besides Tata Motors , General Motors manages a plant in Halol near Vadodara since 1994. It has taken GM's Detroit cousin 17 years to follow suit.
Besides, French car-maker Peugeot is in advanced negotiations for a site, preferably around Sanand. Maruti Suzuki is also expected to finalise Gujarat as the location for a one million cars per annum unit. Maruti Suzuki is keenly scouting for a plot near Santalpur in north Gujarat , closer to Mundra port from where it already exports vehicles. Apart from the new plant, Ford is significantly expanding its capacities in its existing facility in Tamil Nadu.
Ford plans to introduce 8 new models by the middle of the decade
Team AA
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