Ford likely to manufacture EVs in Tamil Nadu: Report
Chennai: Ford Motor Co. is in talks to produce electric vehicles at its southern India plant in Tamil Nadu, which marks its potential return to the world’s third-largest car market three years after shutting down its local factories.
Tamil Nadu Industries Minister T.R.B. Rajaa, in an interview with Bloomberg TV, confirmed that Ford has not yet finalized what it plans to manufacture in India but suggested that electric vehicles are a possibility.
"If you go by trend, the investors that come into Tamil Nadu over the past few years have brought their EV lines," Rajaa was quoted as saying by Bloomberg. "They do know the ecosystem is ripe, and the discussions are also on those lines."
Ford is the latest automaker, joining the ranks of domestic and international companies such as Tata Motors Ltd. and Vietnam's VinFast Auto Ltd., to invest billions in Tamil Nadu for EV manufacturing.
In mid-September, in a letter of intent to the Tamil Nadu government, Ford expressed its intent to use its Chennai plant for export purposes.
This move aligns with India’s broader efforts to expand electric vehicle manufacturing in the country.
Earlier this year, the federal government reduced import taxes for foreign automakers willing to invest $500 million in India.
Tamil Nadu has positioned itself as a key hub for EV production in the nation.
Ford currently employs 12,000 people in its global business operations in Tamil Nadu, with plans to add as many as 3,000 more jobs over the next three years, according to a company statement released last month.
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