Ford India is all set to unveil it global small car concept, the Ka today. The Ka concept was first unveiled in Brazil in November 2013. It is part of Ford's global one car strategy and previews the next-gen of compact B-segment hatchbacks. Interestingly enough Ford already sells the Ka nameplate in some countries.
The global demand for these vehicles is expected to reach around the 6.2 million mark by 2017 and Ford is preparing to meet this need with the sub B-segment compact hatch.
The Ka concept in India will in all probability be positioned above the Figo. Ford India may rebadge the Figo as a Classic. There is also a possibility of a sub 4-metre sedan based on the Ka's platform.
During the Brazil unveil Ford had said that the Ka concept will have class leading interiors, superior performance and above all superb fuel efficiency. It will also have features like Ford Sync multimedia system and many more found only in cars twice as expensive as the Ka concept.
The concept car will provide a glimpse into the kind of vehicle that Ford expects to play an important role in the Asia Pacific region, set to account for nearly a third of the company's global sales volume by mid-decade.
"The concept (car) will showcase Ford's vision for the future in the competitive compact-car segment in India and other dynamic emerging markets," it said in a statement, without disclosing what innovative features would be included in the vehicle.
Ford expects compact car sales to double from last year to about 2 million vehicles in 2018 in India, where automakers sold 2.7 million passenger vehicles in fiscal 2013.
The compact car segment made up almost a third of 2013 total sales in India, Ford said.
Most Indians prefer to drive cheaper, fuel-efficient small cars, in a country where roads are clogged with traffic and parking in big cities is hard to come by.
Sales of smaller cars, excluding the ultra-cheap Nano from Tata Motors, have risen slightly so far this fiscal year that started in April, versus a near 6 percent drop in demand for passenger vehicles, data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers shows.
Strong demand for small entry-level sedans such as Honda Motor Co's Amaze are helping hold up sales.
Ford India is riding on robust demand for its EcoSport compact sport-utility vehicle, which was launched in the country last year.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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