Indian auto fans sparkle with excitement over the recent arrival of new Ford automobiles in the nation. Pictures of the Ford Everest (known as the Endeavour) and Ranger pickup trucks being transported around Chennai on flatbed trucks have been circulating widely. Now, images of these vehicles being unloaded from containers at the port have also caught attention.
Ford Everest & Ranger Images From Port
Ford, once a prominent automaker in India, had a strong presence in the Asian market with models like the Ecosport and Endeavour. However, the company made a sudden exit from India due to various reasons, including the decision not to launch the facelifted Ecosport that was in the testing phase.
Ford is currently thinking about restarting its manufacturing activities and reentering the Indian market. Recent sightings of the Ford Everest SUV (known as the Endeavour in India) and Ranger pickup truck being imported into the country indicate this intention. These vehicles, seen in India without any camouflage, were transported on flatbed trucks to Ford's plant in Chennai.
Images of the Ford Everest and Ranger being transported on flatbed trucks garnered attention a couple of days ago. Subsequently, Weguide Auto shared pictures of these vehicles being unloaded from containers at the Chennai port just before they were loaded onto the trucks and these images offer a glimpse of the Everest and Ranger fresh off the containers at the port.
While the Ford Everest SUV was previously available for sale in India under the name Endeavour, the Ranger pickup truck was never officially sold here. Both vehicles imported into India are in a Right Hand Drive (RHD) layout, as evident from interior images. The Ranger pickup truck imported into India is in XLT 4X4 trim, while the Everest SUV is in Trend trim.
Speculations on Re-starting Operations
The decision by Ford to import both the Everest and Ranger into India suggests that the company is eyeing the upper segment of adventure lifestyle and premium D2 segment SUVs. While the Ranger will compete with models like the Toyota Hilux, Isuzu V-Cross, and the upcoming Mahindra Scorpio Pik-Up, the Ford Everest SUV will rival the Toyota Fortuner, Isuzu MU-X, and the upcoming MG Gloster facelift.
It seems likely that Ford is gearing up to re-enter the Indian market with the Everest and Ranger. This strategic move makes sense as both vehicles share the same T6 ladder-frame chassis and many styling, sheet metal, and interior elements. It is anticipated that both vehicles will feature a common 2.0L diesel engine available in single turbo (180 bhp, 420 Nm) and twin turbo (210 bhp, 500 Nm) configurations.
The interior features of both vehicles include soft-touch plastics, leather seats, a 12-inch portrait screen with Sync 4A, wireless connectivity for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster, Ford pass connect, an 8-speaker sound system, and an ADAS suite. Given the premium positioning of the Everest, it may offer additional features similar to the India-spec Endeavour. It is possible that Ford has imported these vehicles for feasibility testing and plans to launch them soon. Speaking of the launch timeline, 2025 could mark Ford's comeback in the Indian market.