Ford to open 45 new dealerships on 16 February!

Ford India is gearing up to open 45 new dealerships on 16^th February, 2012 across the country. Ford had earlier opened 28 new dealerships on a single day in 2010 soon after the launch of Figo hatchback.

The upcoming dealership expansion drive could have been planned keeping the launch of Ford’s upcoming 5-seater compact SUV, EcoSport in mind. At present, Ford India has more than 200 sales outlets and service centres across 110 cities in the country.

A wide dealership and service network is crucial for a manufacturer to reach out to potential buyers. Ford India, is thus moving in the right direction to rope in more buyers by expanding its dealer network.

This expansion will help strengthen the brand in India and will also gain the trust of customers and potential buyers alike. The Figo was an instant success and part of its popularity can be attributed to the expansion of dealerships. Ford it seems is trying to repeat Figo’s success with its upcoming EcoSport.

The EcoSport was showcased at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo and has all the ingredients of an SUV: bold looks, macho wheels, high ground clearance, roof rails and rear-mounted spare wheel. The EcoSport aims to set new standards in terms of fuel efficiency/power trade off. It will be powered by a 1-liter engine that belts out an impressive 119 bhp. The diesel variant is expected to be powered by a 1.5-litre motor sourced from the new Fiesta sedan.

The EcoSport measures more than four meters and hence, will not qualify as a small car. The Ecosport is expected to be priced in the range of Rs. 7 lakh – 10 lakh. The EcoSport will compete with the upcoming Renault Duster 5-seater SUV.