Next gen Figo hatch and Endeavour in pipeline

Ford India from August will attempt to rev up sales in the country with the release of three new models in just nine months. “Starting with the Figo Aspire, the new sub four metre sedan, Figo hatch which will be followed by an updated Endeavour," informed a senior executive from ford.

The moves are part of the American automaker’s attempts to turn around its sales in India, which it predicts will become the third-largest car market in the world after China and the US by 2020.

The company’s new Figo Aspire and Figo hatchback will go on sale soon and will have engine similar options. The new car will also replace the existing Figo hatchback currently on sale in India. Both cars will be manufactured at Ford’s new factory in Sanand in the western Indian state of Gujarat.

Nigel Harris, president and managing director of Ford in India, says industry sales of compact cars in the country are expected to climb to 780,000 units by 2020, from 448,000 cars this year, and 226,000 cars in 2010.

He expects the design, features and fuel-efficiency of the two cars to attract new customers to the Ford brand in India. The company claims a mileage of 25.83 kilometers to a liter for the 1.5-liter diesel version of the Figo Aspire, and 18.2 kilometers to a liter for the 1.2-liter gasoline engine version, and 17.2 liters to a kilometer for the 1.5-liter gasoline engine version.

Toward the end of this year or early next year, Ford will introduce the latest version of the Ford Endeavour sport-utility vehicle. Mr. Harris said the new model will be a major upgrade from the current Endeavor SUV currently on sale in India.

Sales of Ford vehicles in India fell 29 per cent year-over-year to 14,184 units during April to June 2015, according to data compiled by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers. That followed an 11 per cent drop the fiscal year ended March from a year earlier to 75,138 vehicles sold.