Ford’s recent import of vehicles into India has stirred excitement among enthusiasts in the country. Images of the Ford Everest (known as Endeavour in India) and the Ranger pickup truck being transported on flatbed trucks in Chennai have gone viral. The vehicles, now unloaded from containers at the port, were spotted without camouflage and were being towed to Ford’s Chennai plant. Ford, once a prominent automaker in India, withdrew abruptly from the market.
The images suggest that Ford is considering a re-entry into the Indian market, aiming to re-establish its manufacturing presence. The Everest SUV and Ranger pickup, both spotted in India, are in a right-hand-drive layout. The Ranger is an XLT 4X4 trim, while the Everest is in Trend trim. These vehicles’ import into India indicates that Ford may be targeting the upper end of the adventure lifestyle and the premium D2 segment SUV market.
The Ranger will compete with models like the Toyota Hilux, Isuzu V-Cross, and the upcoming Mahindra Scorpio Pik-Up, while the Everest SUV will rival the Toyota Fortuner, Isuzu MU-X, and the upcoming MG Gloster facelift. Both vehicles share the same T6 ladder-frame chassis, making it a strategic move by Ford. They also likely feature a common 2.0L diesel engine with single and twin-turbo configurations. The interiors showcase features such as soft-touch plastics, leather seats, a 12-inch portrait screen with Sync 4A, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster, Fordpass connect, an 8-speaker system, and an ADAS suite.
The import of these vehicles may be for feasibility testing, hinting at a potential launch, and Ford could mark its comeback in the Indian market around 2025.