Ford's sales figures in India, combined with its exports to overseas markets, reached just under 10,500 units in February. The results build on a total for last year that saw 120,000 in domestic sales. The carmaker exported 30,000 vehicles last year, approximately 20% of its local output.
The February result reveals that 8,035 vehicles produced at its Chennai assembly plant went to the domestic dealer network, which has recently been increased to 230 outlets.
Meanwhile, 2,389 vehicles were exported to overseas markets, with the Figo model being a particular favourite and now being shipped to 34 countries according to the carmaker. Lebanon is the latest additional export market.
The Chennai plant, in the Tamil Nadu region on India's East Coast, also makes the Fusion, Fiesta and Endeavour models. It will add the EcoSport compact SUV this year.
"We have embarked on an exciting growth path in 2012 as evident with our 10,000 plus sales for the second month in a row, and addition of 45 dealerships across India in February," said Ford India's president and managing director, Michael Boneham.
Boneham is eager to increase sales in India, which means a renewed focus on small, entry-level passenger vehicles, which are more in demand. He recently said that Ford was undertaking a complete overhaul of its operating system in India, to more accurately reflect core demands of customers.
Ford India began producing the Figo in March 2010 at the Chennai plant in Tamil Nadu, which is supported by an engine production facility, and made its first shipment of Figos from there the following July to the port of Durban in South Africa.
The company invested $500m in its engine-making facility to add flexible production of the Duratec 1.2-litre engine dedicated to the Indian Figo.
Ford uses the nearby port of Chennai for exports and the Chennai Port Trust is developing a 50-hectare dry port and multimodal logistics hub at nearby Sriperumbudur for carmakers including Ford.
