Ford sales soars 41.8% in 2003-04

Indian arm of the second-biggest US automaker Ford India on Thursday reported a whopping 41.8 per cent sales growth during the last fiscal due to rising sales of mid-size sedan 'Ikon'.

The company sold 21,700 units during 2003-04 over 15,300 units in the previous fiscal, its vice-president (sales and marketing) Vinay Piparsania told PTI.

Doubling the figures in March 2004, Ford India sold 3,200 cars, its highest ever.

"With the 41.8 per cent rise in sales, we have surpassed the industry, which is growing at the rate of 20 per cent," he said.

In March, the company sold 3,035 units of 'IKon', 185 units of recently-launched sports utility vehicle 'Endeavour' and 12 units of luxury sedan 'Mondeo'.

During the last financial year, the company launched the 'Flair' version of 'Ikon', 'NXT' range of the mid-size car and 'Endeavour'.

Ford India manufactures 'Ikon' at its facility near Chennai and imports 'Endeavour' from Thailand and 'Mondeo' from Belgium.