Ford building $1.2b manufacturing complex in India

NEW DELHI (AFP) - US auto giant Ford has started construction on a US$1 billion (S$1.2 billion) manufacturing and engineering complex in India as it bets on the country to help drive global growth, a company statement said on Tuesday.

The new manufacturing facilities in Sanand in the western state of Gujarat will create 5,000 jobs, and will be able initially to produce 240,000 vehicles and 270,000 engines a year, Ford said.

The first vehicles and engines are due to come off the line in 2014.

The complex highlights the automaker's plan 'to aggressively grow the Ford brand in India', said Ford India president Michael Boneham.