Ford India has resumed production of the EcoSport compact SUV. American automobile company Ford has decided to close its vehicle manufacturing factories 10 days ago. An employee said that the company has to export about 30,000 cars by the end of this year. Therefore, during the talks related to the closure of the plant, the management has asked the employees to resume production.
A day before the Ganesh Chaturthi festivities on September 9, Ford India announced that it will stop vehicle assembly in Sanand by the fourth quarter of 2021 and the vehicle and engine manufacturing in Chennai by the second quarter of 2022. After the closure of three out of four plants in India, the employees union has asked for a meeting with the top executives of Ford Motor Company.
The company manufactures the EcoSport models in Chennai, while the Figo and Aspire models are made in Sanand. Ford India makes the EcoSport model sold in the US at its Chennai plant and the Aspire and Figo models are sold in Mexico and South Africa. Earlier Ford India used to manufacture Endeavor models in Chennai but it has recently stopped production.
At the same time, union officials say that the wage settlement with the Chennai plant was done recently. This agreement is for one year. In Sanand, negotiations over salary have stopped as the company has announced the closure of the plant.
According to union officials, there is a difference in the salaries of those working at the Chennai plant and Sanand. Sanand Mazdoor Sangh general secretary Nayan Katesia has told the media that the number of workers in Sanand will be around 2,000. Ford India had said that there were over 500 workers at the Sanand Engine Plant, which produces engines for export, and about 100 employees looking after parts and customer service.