American automaker Ford announced on Friday that it plans to revive its Chennai manufacturing plant in Maraimalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu, to produce vehicles for export markets. The company has communicated its decision to the state government through a formal Letter of Intent.
Tamil Nadu’s Minister for Industries, T.R.B. Rajaa, currently in the United States as part of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin's investor outreach, lauded the decision. "A year of constant interactions and consistent pitches under the guidance of our CM Tamil Nadu M.K. Stalin have today resulted in the return of Ford Motor Company to Tamil Nadu," Rajaa said in a social media post. He emphasised the state’s commitment to showcasing Tamil Nadu’s manufacturing capabilities and abundant talent pool, crediting Stalin’s leadership for restoring "Brand Tamil Nadu" to its leading position.
Rajaa also shared a video from his previous visit to Ford's manufacturing facility in Dearborn, U.S., where the company produces its F150 truck.
Ford’s return to Tamil Nadu marks a significant development after the automaker ceased production in India in September 2021 as part of a global restructuring plan. The Chennai plant, which had been idle since then, will now be reactivated to cater exclusively to export markets.
Chief Minister Stalin had recently met with senior Ford executives to discuss renewing the automaker’s nearly three-decade-long partnership with the state. The reopening of the Chennai facility underscores Tamil Nadu's efforts to attract global companies and enhance its position as a manufacturing hub.
Ford’s decision to utilise the Chennai plant for exports is seen as a major boost for the state’s economy and workforce, following the automaker’s earlier exit from domestic production.
