While Ford bid farewell to its regular automotive operations in India in 2021, it hasn’t severed all ties with the country. Recent reports indicate that Ford India is in an expansion phase, focusing on its Chennai tech hub. The plan involves recruiting around 3,000 additional employees over the next two to three years. The expanded team will be dedicated to developing electric vehicle (EV) applications for Ford’s global EV platforms. Currently, the Chennai hub accommodates 12,000 employees, showcasing the company’s commitment to technological advancements in the EV sector.
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Ford India Designing New Production Lines
In Chennai, dedicated teams are at the forefront of crafting and implementing innovative manufacturing processes for electric vehicles (EVs). Leveraging cutting-edge virtual reality and augmented reality technologies, these teams meticulously design and simulate assembly line workflows for the upcoming EV platform. Their responsibilities span from developing floor plans and orchestrating material flow to configuring assembly lines and optimizing tool stations. This strategic approach underscores Ford’s commitment to advancing manufacturing techniques for the electric future.
“We’re building and designing new manufacturing lines for electric vehicles in Chennai which will use VR/AR to model and simulate assembly line flow and this is being done for our new EV platform manufacturing,” says Mike Amend, Chief Enterprise Tech Officer of Ford Motor Company.
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Ford Investing in EVs, AI and Machine Learning
Ford is making substantial investments in diverse EV-related capabilities, spanning artificial intelligence, machine learning, customer relationship management, digital commerce, data analytics, cybersecurity solutions, and general software development, according to Amend. The Chennai center has already received around $250 million in investments over the past five years, and Ford intends to sustain this momentum with further financial commitments in the upcoming years.
In Chennai, Ford is set to emphasize cloud engineering, software reliability engineering, development engineering, and the creation of advanced platform capabilities. Currently, their focus is on developing a cloud-based commerce platform, intended to be a global hub for customer-dealer interactions encompassing parts, accessories, and merchandise. Chennai plays a pivotal role in Ford’s EV endeavors. The teams based there are responsible for consumer-facing software concerning vehicle theft, charging solutions, Ford Pro commercial vehicle fleet management, vehicle health surveys, and vehicle uptime monitoring. Amend emphasized the expansion of these capabilities and the inclusion of additional EV-related tasks in Chennai.
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