Ford unveils the Figo Concept

Image: Amit Verma

Today, Ford unveiled the Figo Concept, a sub-4 metre sedan, in the B segment, which is dominated by the Maruti Suzuki Dzire. Vinay Piparsania, executive director, marketing, sales and service at Ford said he expects the compact car segment to grow to 2 million units (approximately double of present numbers) by 2018: “This will comprise mostly first-time buyers, and we would like to make them life long fans of the blue oval.”

It is no surprise that after the success of its compact SUV Ford Ecosport, the company is now looking at the B segment to increase sales volumes in India. This segment is increasingly seeing more competition: Tata Motors launched a sub-4 metre car called Zest, which will hit Indian roads in the second half of 2014. The Figo Concept has been designed by the same team that worked on Ecosport.

It would be fair to say that with the success of Figo and Ecosport, Ford has got its act together in India; at least much more than its American rival Chevrolet. Ford India sold 10,634 vehicles in combined domestic wholesale and export sales in January 2014, up 49 percent from 7,115 units a year earlier. The significant jump in sales is primarily because of exports. Domestic sales for January 2014 were flat at 6,706 units, compared to 6,062 units last year.