Driving Ford » Ford Figo Reveal

View from the Top: John Parker

Ford Figo — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 06:46:24 +0000

John Parker, executive vice president, Ford Asia Pacific and Africa made an impassioned speech as he went down memory lane to the time he started Ford in India 12 years ago . He spoke of the significance of the Figo in India and worldwide. “Figo is the foundation stone for the right products that are going to drive our India business forward. So next time we come back, there will be 10,000 people sitting in this room.” And then he challenged us: “When the car rolls out, I want your friends and neighbours who buy it to say, what a great car it is, not just to look at, but what a great car to drive!”

Enjoy the video!

View from the Top: Alan Mulally

Ford Figo — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:02:24 +0000

President and CEO Alan Mulally thrilled us when he said, “When you walk into a Ford showroom, you will be able to get every vehicle from there you can dream of,” at the Chennai town hall. “We are going to be best-in-class for every vehicle we make,” he added as 5000 of us from Ford operations in India hung on to every word. And the loud applause resonated with his inspiring assertion, “We are creating a viable Ford together.”

We hope you enjoy the video as much as we enjoyed hearing Mr. Mulally speak!

Ford India rocks!

Ford Figo — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:47:44 +0000

Alan Mulally and the Ford Figo got a hearty welcome from more than 5,000 Ford employees at our town hall meeting in Chennai last week. We think this was a record audience for a Mulally town hall meeting anywhere in the world!

“Ford India rocks!” were Mr Mulally’s first words, and we responded with thunderous applause and shouts of approval.

Recounting the Ford Figo unveiling to the press a day earlier, Mr Mulally said, “What we shared with the press was that we were developing a new small car and we’re doing it right here in India as part of the Ford team… So what were we really announcing yesterday? That Ford of India was leading the entire Ford Motor Company to bring the latest new Ford product.”

The who’s who of Ford India was at the town hall — Michael Boneham, Ford India president and managing director, John Parker, executive vice president, Ford Motor Company Asia Pacific and Africa, and Joginder Singh, executive director, Global Business Services (GBS).

Mr Boneham told us that Figo will “give us muscle in the heart of the Indian market.” On the other hand, Mr Parker confessed having a tough time controlling his emotions and said the Figo was a dream come true. “I struggled all the years I was here in India to get into this area of the market so this is the culmination of 12 years of dreams for myself as well as for all of you.”

Mr Mulally inspired us when he shared our founder’s dream. “Henry Ford’s vision was that the Ford Motor Company would operate in every country in which they sold vehicles,” he said. “Because his dream was that not only would you get the finest vehicles in the world but you’d get a chance to work for the Ford Motor Company at the same

What the Press is Saying

Ford Figo — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:47:18 +0000

The Figo reveal has created ripples in the Indian auto industry and the news media. We bring you snippets from the press coverage.

Economic Times leads the way with the headline “India will build Ford’s Figo”, while The Hindu Business Line declares that “Everything about it [Figo] says it is a Ford”. Mint features an in-depth interview with president and CEO Alan Mulally.

Indian news channels covered the unveiling event and interviewed Mr. Mulally. NDTV interviewed Mr. Mulally; so did CNBC TV 18. Mr. Mulally spoke about the small car strategy, his plans for India and Ford being the right vehicle for the Indian customer. ET Now has an on-ground interview with Mr. Mulally on Ford’s multiple global platforms and the role of small cars in our family of vehicles.

The Figo also made it to the international press, with Business Week dubbing the Figo a small car “made in – and for – India”. We couldn’t agree more.

- By the Ford Figo team

The Ford Figo Revealing Moment

Ford Figo — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 06:08:00 +0000

Here are the best moments of our unveiling event yesterday. Watch the Ford Figo drive out for the first time and what president and CEO Alan Mulally had to say about Ford and the new car.

What do you think of the Figo? Let us know.

Ford Figo is here!

Ford Figo — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:02:35 +0000

It’s anything but small- it’s substantial. It’s a Ford. And it’s finally revealed!

Say hello to the newest member of the Ford carline in India– the Ford Figo!

Figo is colloquial Italian for “cool”, and our new car personifies the vibrant spirit and youthful character of its name, plus the quality and substance car buyers expect from a Ford.

Our president and CEO Alan Mulally introduced Figo to the foreign and Indian media at a press conference in Delhi a short while ago. It was a fascinating sneak peek at our future in India.

“We know the high importance Indian consumers place on value for money. We know you want quality, fuel efficiency, technology, and safety. And Ford is going to give it to you,” Mr. Mulally said at the conference.

We like Figo’s kinetic design, which shares key elements with the Focus, Mondeo and Fiesta. Its contemporary touches include expressive headlamps and grille, and sculpted bonnet. Also check out a host of other design details, such as:

Chiseled front fenders and strong shoulders
‘Comet tail’ undercut in the door
Chamfered window shape at the rear
Light-catching sculpting in the lower bodyside
Sporty integrated spoiler
Contemporary singular side window graphic, a strong graphic via the use of a blacked-out centre pillar

Alan Mulally unveils Ford Figo

Ford Figo — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 07:09:04 +0000

It was an historic moment for Ford today as president and CEO Alan Mulally unveiled our new car in India – the Figo – at a press conference in Delhi. The Figo is Ford’s substantial offering to Indian car buyers, and is scheduled for launch in early 2010.

The excitement among our team grew as journalists from around the world poured into the conference hall. The theme – One Ford, One Vision, One Team, One Moment – became apparent as the events unfolded.

Michael Boneham, president and managing director, Ford India, kicked off the press conference with an insightful introduction to Ford’s $500 million investment in India. “This strategic investment is transforming our India business – into a volume manufacturing and export hub…and a regional center of excellence for Ford small car development and production.”

Mr Boneham called the Figo a game-changer for the India operations. “It will give us competitive muscle in the heart of the India market. And it marks the beginning of a series of new products for customers here,” he envisioned.

Taking over the stage from Mr Boneham, president