Ford India registered a sales drop of 39 per cent in the month of April.
The American carmaker registered a combined sale of 15,281 vehicles in April 2018 as compared to 25,149 in the same month of the previous year. The domestic sales dropped to 7428 units from 7618 units in April 2017. The export figures plummeted drastically down to 7,853 units as compared to 17,531 vehicles in the same month last year. This is owing to the new model launch preparation for Freestyle, says the American carmaker.
Ford India launched their all-new global product, the Freestyle, in India last month for an introductory price of Rs 5.09 lakhs (ex-showroom). The Freestyle is a cross hatch with a raised ground clearance, rugged body kit and a new design which will be followed in the updated Figo and Aspire. It is powered by a new 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine from the Dragon family and the same 1.5-litre diesel unit from the Figo. As of now, both the engines get the five-speed manual transmission as standard. Produced at the Ford’s Sanand facility, the Freestyle is also exported to the European market and is sold as the Ka+ Active.
Commenting on the sales performance, Anurag Mehrotra, president and managing director, Ford India, said, “Increasing inflation trajectory which might weigh on customer’s access and cost to credit, coupled with increasing crude prices could lead to passenger vehicle industry growing at low single digits - so far this year”.
