New Ford Motors cars sit at a storage area in the Port of Cologne in Germany. The manufacturer's operations across the globe have been disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak. Bloomberg
New Ford Motors cars sit at a storage area in the Port of Cologne in Germany. The manufacturer's operations across the globe have been disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak. Bloomberg
New Ford Motors cars sit at a storage area in the Port of Cologne in Germany. The manufacturer's operations across the globe have been disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak. Bloomberg
New Ford Motors cars sit at a storage area in the Port of Cologne in Germany. The manufacturer's operations across the globe have been disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak. Bloomberg

Ford pulls plug on plans to cede India business to Mahindra


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Ford Motor is reversing plans to cede most of its Indian operations to Mahindra & Mahindra, deciding to pull out of a proposed joint venture and continue its standalone business in the country.

The companies agreed to terminate the venture after reassessing in part due to the global coronavirus pandemic, they said.

The decision ends a deal reached more than a year ago under which Ford was expected to fold its local operations, including two factories, into a JV that would be majority-controlled by Mahindra, a leading Indian manufacturer of sport utility vehicles.

The future of Ford’s business in India is unclear as it has struggled for more than two decades to grow in the world’s fourth-largest car market.

“The company is actively evaluating its businesses around the world, including in India,” Ford said a statement.

The US marque took a $799 million impairment charge in 2019 in anticipation of the asset transfer to Mahindra to account for what it called “fair value less cost to sell.” A spokesman said the termination of the deal won’t affect that valuation.

“There will be no impact on the impairment that we recorded previously,” said TR Reid, the spokesman.

The manufacturers said previously they would cooperate to develop an electric car for emerging markets and work together to introduce three new models to be sold under the Ford brand in India, starting with a mid-sized SUV.

Ford did not specify what would become of those projects.

Mahindra said in its own statement the venture’s termination wouldn’t affect its product plans. “Mahindra is accelerating its efforts to establish leadership in electric SUVs,” it said.

The decision came as a December 31 deadline loomed for formalising the planned partnership. Jim Farley, who became the Ford's chief executive in October, earlier said that the JV with Mahindra could allow Ford to double its revenue from India.

THE BIO

Age: 30

Favourite book: The Power of Habit

Favourite quote: "The world is full of good people, if you cannot find one, be one"

Favourite exercise: The snatch

Favourite colour: Blue

The%20specs
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The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz E 300 Cabriolet

Price, base / as tested: Dh275,250 / Dh328,465

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder

Power: 245hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: 370Nm @ 1,300rpm

Transmission: Nine-speed automatic

Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km

Company profile

Name: Fruitful Day

Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie

Based: Dubai, UAE

Founded: 2015

Number of employees: 30

Sector: F&B

Funding so far: Dh3 million

Future funding plans: None at present

Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries

Small Victories: The True Story of Faith No More by Adrian Harte
Jawbone Press

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now

EA Sports FC 25
Gremio 1 Pachuca 0

Gremio Everton 95’

SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20NOTHING%20PHONE%20(2)
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The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
The specs: Aston Martin DB11 V8 vs Ferrari GTC4Lusso T

Price, base: Dh840,000; Dh120,000

Engine: 4.0L V8 twin-turbo; 3.9L V8 turbo

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic; seven-speed automatic

Power: 509hp @ 6,000rpm; 601hp @ 7,500rpm

Torque: 695Nm @ 2,000rpm; 760Nm @ 3,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 9.9L / 100km; 11.6L / 100km

Cases of coronavirus in the GCC as of March 15

Saudi Arabia – 103 infected, 0 dead, 1 recovered

UAE – 86 infected, 0 dead, 23 recovered

Bahrain – 210 infected, 0 dead, 44 recovered

Kuwait – 104 infected, 0 dead, 5 recovered

Qatar – 337 infected, 0 dead, 4 recovered

Oman – 19 infected, 0 dead, 9 recovered

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