Ford Considers Super-Minicar for Emerging Markets

10/04/96

Reuters reports that Ford CEO Alex Trotman told a luncheon at the Paris auto show that Ford was considering building a minicar for the Indian and Chinese markets that would out-mini its current minicars: "It would have a cost and weight below the Fiesta and Ka . . . but we haven't taken a decision to proceed with a major investment."

Trotman said, "we're very aggressive in increasing our presence in developing countries. Growth in the next century will come from Asia and South America with almost stable growth in Europe and North America."

Ford recently started producing a version of the European Escort at a plant in Bombay and plans to make Fiestas in Madras. It has five joint ventures in China, as well as projects in Thailand, Vietnam and Egypt. The company is also building a Polish plant, plans to make cars in Belarus, and is studying production possibilities in Russia.

Trotman described the new minicar that Ford is studying as "extremely low-cost, very simple in design and very durable."

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel