Ford India has announced plans for a green and modern new Global Technology and Business Center in Chennai that will serve as a hub for product development, mobility solutions and business services for India and other markets around the world. Ford Executive Chairman, Bill Ford, visiting Chennai for the announcement, said the automaker will invest $195 million (Rs. 1,300 crore) and hire 3,000 skilled workers over the next five years to fully staff the new center. Ford also will consolidate 9,000 employees from six existing facilities in Chennai on the 28-acre campus. With 12,000 employees in total, the Chennai facility will become Ford’s second-largest center of employment globally after Dearborn, Mich., U.S. expected to be completed by early 2019, the Ford Global Technology and Business Center in Chennai will become Ford’s third global product development center in Asia Pacific and part of Ford’s global product development network. As well as housing engineering talent, the campus will be home to employees from IT, finance, accounting, data analytics and manufacturing.
The center will employ Indian engineers, scientists and skilled workers. It also will feature a wide range of laboratories and testing facilities for both full vehicles and components, enabling Ford to conduct extensive testing of future vehicles in India. In addition to growing product development capabilities in India, the center will house Ford’s second-largest IT organization outside of the company’s global headquarters. Making the most of local talent, this team will help to drive innovative ideas for Ford’s core & emerging business models in mobility, analytics and connected vehicles. Ford is also working to ensure that the new center meets the highest environmental standards. Both the office buildings and the Learning and Development Center are designed for compliance with LEED Gold and Platinum standards for green buildings.