Mahindra and Ford have come together to strengthen their new strategic alliance to jointly develop a Mid-Size SUV. This new Mid-Size SUV will be developed for Indian and other emerging markets. This new Mid-Size SUV will be built on Mahindra’s new powertrain and platform. In October 2018 both the companies made an announcement on powertrain sharing and connected car solutions and also in September 2017 the two had announced a strategic alliance and this new agreement has further strengthened the progress made between the two companies.
Both companies as mentioned earlier may bring a new car that will have connected technology. Mahindra and Ford have also announced joint development of a telematics control unit. Mahindra group will also develop and provide low displacement engines for Ford’s present and future vehicles from the year 2020.
Ford has been in business in India since 1995 and is one of the largest exporters of cars from the country. Ford’s global reach and Mahindra’s successful operation model in India will be helpful in good business for both the companies. From the past seven decades, Mahindra has led the utilitarian vehicle market and Mahindra has been one of the few global companies to pioneer and develop clean and affordable electric vehicles to be commercially available in India.
We can expect the new mid-size C-SUV to make a debut at the 2020 Auto Expo in India at least as a concept.
Will Ford shut down operations in India completely? These rumours have been doing the rounds ever since this alliance was announced. Time will tell how Mahindra & Ford work together as a team, and which company leads the way…