Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin met with Ford officials to explore the potential reopening of their factory in Maraimalai Nagar, near Chennai. The plant, which was shut down in 2021, had been part of a long-standing partnership between the auto giant and the state.
Following the meeting, CM Stalin shared on X (formerly Twitter), "Had a very engaging discussion with the team from Ford Motors! Explored the feasibility of renewing Ford’s three-decade partnership with Tamil Nadu, to again make in Tamil Nadu for the world!"
The discussions took place during Stalin's 17-day visit to the US, where he has been actively seeking new investments for Tamil Nadu. The timing of the talks is significant, as Ford India is expected to make a key decision on the future of its Chennai plant soon.
There is speculation that Ford may consider re-entering the Indian market for the third time, with plans for both internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric vehicle (EV) production in the form of Completely Built Units (CBU), meaning the cars would be fully assembled overseas before being imported to India.
The Chennai facility could also serve as an export hub, following the cancellation of a previous deal with the JSW group last December. Ford India has also filed for a design patent for a new version of its popular Endeavour model, a best-seller in the past, alongside its compact SUV, the Ecosport.
Ford had initially exited the Indian market in September 2021 after investing nearly $2 billion, citing challenges with competition and global economic issues that severely impacted its sales.
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