Ford EcoSport is India's most exported car - Report

Exports grow 55% from FY15.

The Ford EcoSport, although facing heat from the Maruti Vitara Brezza and the Hyundai Creta in the domestic market, is still doing very well in exports. The Ford EcoSport was the most exported passenger vehicle from India in financial year 2015-16, according to the data published by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).

Ford exported 83,325 units of EcoSport during FY16, witnessing a 51% growth from FY15 (55,178 units). The domestic sales of the Ford EcoSport should also improve by next year, with the introduction of the facelift. As for the car which had the highest growth in exports last fiscal year, it was the Maruti Alto. The A-segment car's exports grew by 73% from 31,594 units (FY15) to 54,656 units (FY16). A company spokesperson told Economic Times that the major factor behind this impressive growth was due to the changes made to the trade policy in Sri Lanka with which the import duty became favourable again for small cars.

Next year, while domestic sales temporarily may improve owing to the mid-cycle update, exports of the Ford EcoSport may witness fluctuations. There are two reasons for that, the first being that the Euro-spec version's production will be relocated from Chennai to the Craiova Assembly Plant in Romania. The second reason is that the Indian plant will start exporting the EcoSport to the USA which is the world's second biggest market for crossovers and SUVs.

Also Read: Maruti Vitara Brezza outsells Ford EcoSport in first month

The North American exports may not only compensate the discontinuation of the Euro-spec EcoSport, but take it further ahead in the coming years if the Indian plant is able to meet the desired quality. A lot also depends on how well the Ford EcoSport is received stateside.

[Source: Economic Times]