Ford C-SUV Won’t Be A Re-badged Mahindra XUV500
We reported earlier that Ford and Mahindra have joined hands to form a new entity in the country. The first model under the new JV is an all-new C-segment SUV, which will be sold under the Ford nameplate. The new C-SUV will be based on the next-gen XUV500, which is scheduled to be launched in the second half of 2020.
The new Ford C-segment SUV is most likely to be unveiled in the second half of 2020 while launch expected in early 2021. It was speculated that the new C-SUV will be a re-badged XUV500. However, a new media report claims that the Mahindra-Ford JV will not cross-badge products for the domestic market.
The sharing of vehicle architecture will help the joint venture to save over $200 million in the next two to three years. Mahindra will also source Ford’s B platform, which currently underpins the EcoSport, Aspire, Figo and the Freestyle. It is expected that Mahindra will develop a compact SUV based on this platform.
Speaking to ET-Auto, Pawan Goenka, MD of Mahindra & Mahindra, said, “We will do totally independent products; if you didn’t know it, you wouldn’t know that both products are based on a common architecture. Both companies can retain their own DNA and be differentiated, yet share a lot in common,” he added.
The new C-SUV will have Ford-like driving experience. It will be developed on the same production line that produces the new XUV500. Testing of the next-gen XUV500 have already been started. Previous media report claims that the Ford C-SUV will share close to 75% components with the next XUV500. Mahindra is also planning to reduce its platform count to increase the profit share. The company will launch the next generation XUV500, Scorpio and the Thar in 2020.
