With an aim to make India a manufacturing hub, American motor major Ford on Thursday opened a new manufacturing and engine plant in Sanand, Ahmedabad. The company expects to triple its exports from India in the coming years. The manufacturing facility was inaugurated by Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel.
This is the company's second plant in India besides Chennai's plant. "With manufacturing facilities in Chennai and Sanand, we expect to triple our exports from India," said Ford Motor President and CEO Mark Fields.
Spread over 460 acre, the new $1 billion plant, will be able to manufacture 2.4 lakh cars and 2.7 lakh engines annually. The plant can generate around 10,000 jobs - 2,500 direct jobs and around 7,500 jobs through the company's suppliers.
"With today's opening of our plant in Sanand, we have taken our growth commitment to anew high in India. We are doubling our manufacturing capacity in India, creating good jobs and serving our customers around the world with great products," he added.