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Ford may launch new small car, MUV in India by 2002

Ford Motor Company of the United States is contemplating rolling out a small car and a multi-utility vehicle in the Indian market.

''We are considering a whole lot of vehicles as probable launches for India, which includes a small car, a multi-utility vehicle and many others,'' Phil Spender, managing director of Ford India Limited, a subsidiary of Ford of the US, said.

However, he refused to divulge details on the same saying the project is still under study. ''It is too early to talk on the positioning, pricing and other specific details of the models to be launched.''

''We are presently looking at the business equations with these models and deciding on which would be the best suited for Indian roads. To develop a whole new car for any market, it takes about three years from the time we say 'Yes, we have to go ahead with this'. That stage is yet to come here," Spender said.

Although no specific time frame has been fixed for the launch of the small car and the MUV, it is likely to be seen zipping down the streets only after three years.

Ford of the US, he said, is examining all the segments of the passenger car market in India and ''is open to the idea of foraying into any growing market segment''.

The Maraimallai Nagar plant near Madras has been designed to be flexible enough to adjust a range of other models which are likely to be rolled on to the Indian roads in the future.

UNI

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