Ford India to make a comeback in 2025? New-Gen Endeavour design patented in India
Ford India's comeback to automotive manufacturing might begin with the new-generation Endeavour. Lack of profitability and a lack of new models in the range caused the American automaker to terminate its operations in India in September 2021, after more than 25 years. Ford has now filed a design patent for its Endeavour SUV. Not only that, but Ford India has recently posted fresh employment openings. These facts strongly suggest that Ford may shortly resume operations in India.
According to recent reports, Ford India has filed a patent for the next-generation model, launched internationally in 2022. The Endeavour, also known as the Ford Everest in a few overseas countries, was the Toyota Fortuner's closest competitor in India. We expect Ford India to bring 2,500 units of the big SUV every year as fully-built units as that is the limit without full-blown homologation.
Don't expect the car to come cheap though, as we assume that the vehicle will be priced closer to Rs 60 lakh.
The brand has two production plants in India: one in Sanand, Gujarat, and another in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The former was purchased by Tata Motors last year, while the latter was subject to a lengthy bidding procedure. Jindal Steel Works (JSW) was on the verge of acquiring the Chennai-based facility when the agreement was called off last month.
Ford's recent job openings at its Chennai production site, advertised on the company's official LinkedIn profile, have fueled the flames. The automaker is looking to fill various jobs, including Technical Anchor, ADAS Feature Owner, Software Engineer, Senior Data Engineer, and others. This indicates that Ford plans to begin operations in Chennai.
The new Ford Everest globally comes with a 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel, which is accompanied by the tried and tested 2-litre Bi-Turbo diesel engine. A 6-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic transmission is available depending on the engine. In some markets, the SUV is also available with a 2WD arrangement.
The new Endeavour has a more masculine design language than the previous model. It has C-shaped daytime running lights, LED headlights, a large grille, and a tough bumper. The SUV's tailgate is radically different in the back. It sports a lower profile and a separate set of LED tail lights.
The SUV has premium features on the interior, such as a huge 12-inch portrait touchscreen, a digital instrument screen with a resolution of up to 12.4 inches, and a revised 3-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel. The forthcoming Ford Endeavour will also have wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless phone charging, USB charging, and a 360-degree camera. A blind spot information system, autonomous emergency braking, front collision warning, lane-keeping system, and active park assist are among the many safety features.
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