So far, no takers for Ford’s Chennai plant

Chennai: Several people have come and are coming to see the company’s plant here and have gone, but nothing concrete has come out, said a source close to Ford India Private Ltd. Ford India is looking out for a buyer for its Chennai plant after it shut down Indian manufacturing operations here and in Gujarat. Ford India had earlier sold its Gujarat plant to Tata Group. The latest name that is being said as the potential buyer of the Chennai plant is steel major JSW group led by Sajjan Jindal.A

“A small team of officials are working on selling the Chennai plant. There is no internal mail announcing the plant sale to Jindal group,” a senior official preferring anonymity said.

“Nothing concrete seems to have happened with regard to Ford India’s Chennai plant. People are saying JSW group is interested in the plant now,” a source not wanting to be identified said

According to reports, the JSW group will be floating a new company to acquire a considerable stake in MG Motors India, holding talks with a Chinese electric vehicle company and also buying Ford India’s Chennai plant.

“We continue to explore alternatives for the Chennai plant and have nothing further to add,” Ford India said.

It was also speculated that Vietnamese automobile company VinFast was also interested in Ford India’s Chennai plant.

In September 2021, Ford India announced its decision to wind down vehicle assembly in Gujarat’s Sanand vehicle and engine manufacturing in Chennai. Ford India had set up four plants in the country -- vehicle and engine plants in Chennai and Sanand.

The company sold its Gujarat facility for Rs725.70 crore to Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd.

The plant in Sanand includes the entire land and buildings, the vehicle manufacturing plant, along with its machinery and equipment, and transfer of all eligible employees of Ford India’s vehicle manufacturing operations.