Ford is reportedly working on plans to resume operations at its former manufacturing plant near Chennai in Tamil Nadu, four years after production ended at the facility. According to a report by Fortune India, the automaker is considering converting the Maraimalai Nagar plant into an electric vehicle manufacturing hub.
EV And Battery Production Under Consideration
Industry sources cited in the report said Ford could upgrade the idle facility to support EV assembly as well as production of battery cells, batteries, electric motors and other electric powertrain components.
The facility could potentially be developed through a brownfield expansion and positioned as an Asia-Pacific production base for more affordable electric vehicles. However, the reported plans have not been confirmed by Ford.
A Ford spokesperson said the company’s previously announced plans for export-only powertrain manufacturing remain unchanged. Ford announced those plans last year but did not disclose the type of powertrain or intended export markets, and the spokesperson did not provide further details.
Investment Estimates Vary
An integrated EV and battery manufacturing operation could require an estimated investment of 150 billion to 200 billion rupees, equivalent to about €1.4 billion to €1.8 billion. These figures are industry estimates and have not been confirmed by Ford.
The company has confirmed a smaller investment of 32.5 billion rupees, or about €294 million, under a memorandum of understanding signed with the Tamil Nadu government in October 2025.
There is currently no information on which EV models Ford could potentially manufacture at the Chennai facility.
New EV Platform Could Support Multiple Models
Ford is developing a new Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) platform for lower-cost electric vehicles globally. The architecture is scheduled to debut in the company’s entry-level electric pickup truck, the Fathom, in early 2027.
Ford has said the UEV platform is designed to support multiple vehicle types, ranging from B-segment passenger cars to commercial vehicles. However, there is no indication that the platform will be used for vehicles produced at the Chennai facility.
Ford Has Not Announced India Market Return
The reported plans do not indicate that Ford intends to resume selling vehicles in India. The company announced in September 2021 that it would cease vehicle manufacturing in the country, including winding down vehicle assembly at its Sanand plant in Gujarat by the fourth quarter of 2021 and vehicle and engine production near Chennai by the second quarter of 2022.
Ford sold the Sanand facility to Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Limited in 2023. The automaker continues to own the Maraimalai Nagar plant near Chennai.
For now, Ford’s confirmed plans for the Tamil Nadu facility remain focused on export-oriented powertrain manufacturing, while the broader EV and battery hub described in the report remains unconfirmed.
