Legendary car maker, Ford Motors have been on the global map since more than a century. Its founder, Henry Ford is one of the pioneers of technology in automobiles. The American car maker kick started its business with its first model named Model A in the year 1903 and the vehicle was an instant hit due to its sheer practicality. Later, the company launched several products including Model T and Ford Mustang which were among the most sold cars in that era.

Since its introduction, the American auto major has been one of the largest producers of cars and its journey can better understand with the brands it bought. Before the entry in new millennium, the renowned company had acquired Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd (75% stakes), Jaguar Cars, Volvo Cars and Land Rover. However, lately the company has been surrounded by investment issues which lead to resale of most of the brands it bought.

The Michigan based auto firm marked its entry in the Indian subcontinent in 1995 and operated through its fully owned subsidiary Ford India. Setting up its first technically advanced manufacturing unit at Maraimalai Nagar, off Chennai, it caters to around 10,000 employees in India. Its journey through country of villages can be summarized as

• Year 1995, the introduction of Ford in India with aspirations to rule the Indian market.


• Respectively launched in the year 1996, 1999, 2001 and 2004, Ford Escort, Ikon, Mondeo and Fusion have been discontinued.


• Year 2003, initially struggling for years, the firm launched Endeavour that helped it to restore some of its legacy.


• Year 2005, Ford launched Fiesta Classic sedan now renamed as Ford Classic, its first entry level sedan that still contributes to company’s sales tally.


• Year 2010, the most voluminous product from company’s stable hit the market in the name of Figo, a small car that has fiercely competed with the segment rulers Hyundai and Maruti & is the largest selling car for the company in India till date.


• Year 2011, a completely new Ford Fiesta was launched at a premium price; Fiesta is offered in both manual and automatic modes and is undoubtedly, a synonym of style, comfort, and great performance.


• Year 2012, facelift Figo was introduced on 15th October which grabbed the falling sales of Figo and brought some relief to the company.


• Year 2013, the auto maker’s most iconic model, EcoSport, a compact SUV is set to ablaze the Indian roads with launch expected in early 2013.

Looks all fine from here but Ford has had a shaky path in the past few decades, fingers crossed on Ford’s future.