Ford EcoSport Low Cost of Ownership with Child Parts Strategy - Rush Lane

India has taken into account the post purchase dejection when buyers find out that they have bitten off more than they can chew. Higher cost of maintenance, fuel expenses and servicing charges as compared to that originally calculated, has caused many first time buyers to think twice before taking their car out. Lower cost of ownership is what the company has ensured for their models. This has been made possible due to the use of innovative products and use of Child Parts or breaking up an assembly into sub-components. By introducing Child parts strategy, Ford India has ensured that cost of ownership is drastically reduced as instead of replacing the complete assembly, it is only that faulty child part that needs to be swapped for a new one. For eg., Ford Figo (and also the new EcoSport, whose launch is expected to take place next month) comes with a replaceable door skin. In the event of an accident or even minor damage to the door, the entire door need not be replaced as only the door skin can be removed and a new one fitted in its place. The same applies to change of piston assembly, alternator assembly or exterior mirror assembly which all work out to reduced expenses in the long run. This child parts strategy besides other lower ownership cost system is seen in the Ford Figo which possess upto 80% localised parts (EcoSport localisation percentage is yet to be revealed). This reduces cost of ownership besides permitting Indian buyers to possess a world class vehicle without the bother of procurement of parts. For detailed information, scan through the media release below. Ford India's use of innovative Child Parts Strategy ensures you don't have a white elephant in your garage Buying a car is a big decision for any family. One usually looks for the spaciousness, the looks, easy manoeuvring on Indian roads, its fuel efficiency, etc. But there are tons of other innovations that car companies like Ford are implementing at different stages to make the joy of bringing a car home is long-lasting. As per an old an old Indian saying, it's one thing to buy a white elephant and quite another to feed it. In the present day context, many of us end up with the automotive equivalent of the proverbial elephant in our garages. Post purchase, high cost of maintenance and servicing often wring our pockets dry. In a world where every paisa saved is a paisa earned, a low Cost of Ownership for a vehicle is critical to customer satisfaction. One of the many ways in which Ford ensures a low Cost of Ownership for its great products is the innovative use of Child Parts. By breaking up an assembly into sub-components or "child parts" Ford is able to improve the reparability of its vehicles thus reducing cost of ownership. In effect rather than replacing a complete assembly only the malfunctioning "child part" needs to be replaced. ·         Replaceable door skin in the Figo – To reduce cost of ownership for Figo owners, Ford created an innovative door design where a replaceable skin was put on the door frame. As a result, in the event of a dent or any other form of minor damage to the door, the skin could be replaced instead of the entire closure assembly; thus making the repair a less costly affair. ·         Individual replaceable Piston assembly- If the connecting rod or piston rings get damaged, they can be replaced separately now while earlier, the entire short block assembly (piston, rings, pins, connecting rod) needed replacement. ·         Alternator Assembly – Previously, if an alternator failed, the customer would have to purchase a full alternator. Now it has been broken down into various smaller parts. If a specific component within an alternator fails, like a washer ring for instance gets damaged, it can be replaced without replacing the whole alternator. ·         The exterior mirror assembly- In case of damage to mirror cover (scalp), it's a standard practice to change the whole mirror assembly but in Ford cars, you can simply get a damaged cover or scalp changed separately without having to pay for the new mirror and the whole assembly. Child parts strategy combined with other cost of ownership reduction initiatives have made it possible for lakhs of customers in India to own a world-class vehicle without worrying much about the expenses. Other elements of this broader aspect of reducing costs are building the vehicles locally instead of importing them in parts and then assembling them here. All the latest Ford models feature high levels of localisation. For example, Ford's award winning Figo is 80 per cent localised, thus helping it deliver outstanding value to owners. Also, Ford has been aggressively expanding its dealership, Mobile Service vans and Road Side Assistance. As of now Ford has a strong footprint 18 dealerships in the eastern region with a total of 260 sales and service outlets across 138 cities in India. With its first ever dealership inauguration in Sikkim, Ford has seen over 40 percent of the sales and service network growth in tier II and III cities. With the expansion of Ford's Road Side Assistance to beyond 39 cities, the company now plans to cover 80% of Ford India's consumer base nationwide. Through these innovative changes in design, technology and expanding its services to the most distant corners of the country, Ford has made it possible for customers in Tier I and II cities to own a top of the line product without fretting over cost of ownership later or finding a nearby service station. Elevating Ownership and Brand Experience with the All-New EcoSport All-new Ford EcoSport will be supported by a well thought out strategy of robust and well-tested components and spares and faster, affordable and timely service  Innovative 'Child Parts' strategy, competitive pricing and specially developed durable parts plus technologically advanced powertrains contribute to amazingly low Cost of Ownership (CoO) Pioneering initiatives like Quick Service Bay, Roadside Assistance (RSA) and Quick Lane to elevate customer experience across a rapidly expanding service network GOA, India, May 6, 2013 – The all-new Ford EcoSport rolling into India does stand out with its strikingly good looks inspired by Ford's design philosophy in an attractive package of power and performance, but  it also aims to enhance the customer brand experience with Ford's vision of providing a low Cost of Ownership and service over time. As one of the latest products on Ford's global platform, the urban SUV will be supported by a well thought out strategy of robust and well-tested components and spares, service footprint expansion and faster and timely service that will pleasantly surprise the customers. "We have evolved significantly and building on the trust with consumers by emphatically and closely listening to service needs – of the Indian customer during ownership and service trips in the years after the Figo's successful launch here to bring in a service evolution", explains PK Umashankar, vice president of Customer Service Operations, Ford India. "Reducing Cost of Ownership is an intensive and continuous process. It is our strategic imperative and we have seen great resonance with Figo and Classic owners. Ford's commitment is to offer products that make value sense and take a quantum leap towards low cost of ownership with reduced service intervals, enhanced durability and reliability, superior fuel efficiency and an ever increasing service," Umashankar added. To offer this, Umashankar pointed out Ford has worked hard on a three-pronged vision of efficient technology and parts design, service innovations and network expansion. Efficient technology and parts design Three class-leading powertrains, including the internationally acclaimed EcoBoost, will power the EcoSport range in India, offering amazing and superior fuel-efficiency and thus a low running cost over the entire ownership lifecycle. Despite its small capacity and proportions, the EcoBoost engine delivers power and performance that will rival a traditional 1.6-litre petrol engine while emitting less than 140g/KM CO2. It will have 125 PS of power giving the Ford EcoSport a footprint that is small enough for urban driving yet robust enough for a trip out of the city. The proven 1.5 litre TiVCT petrol and 1.5 litre TDCi diesel engines deliver exceptional power, amazing fuel efficiency and reduced carbon dioxide emissions. In the automatic version of the TiVCT, its PowerShift transmission is equipped with an innovative 'dry' dual clutch comes with lifetime freedom from oil-change, further contributing to lower CoO. Being produced on a global platform, the all-new EcoSport benefits from the huge economies of scale in terms global sourcing that benefits the customer. With more service parts and components being produced locally in India by Ford as well as key suppliers, the availability and affordability of parts has greatly increased. Applying its learnings from the Figo, Ford has introduced 'Child Parts' on the EcoSport that do not call for replacing entire assemblies. For example, the door skin can be replaced instead of the entire door assembly. The front bumper comes as three separate Child Parts allowing cheaper replacement. The side mirror scalps can be replaced instead of the total mirror assembly. "With heavy road congestion, door damage repair is both frequent and quite expensive for the Indian customer," explains Umashankar. "In many instances, simply replacing the door skin with rather than the entire door assembly can save customers a substantial amount of money due to our reduced labour costs." Regular service is important to the longevity of the vehicle and Ford engineers have designed key components and maintenance schedules to help keep the cost of ownership as low as possible. Among items such as fuel filter and fluid replacement, including transmission oil, brake and clutch fluids, drive belt and engine coolant, the all-new EcoSport is expected to be class leading due to the infrequent service that is required on those items. Additionally, the engine's spark plug is designed to perform efficiently with a longer replacement interval. Pioneering service innovations Providing easy and quick service for the all-new EcoSport also has been addressed with more dealerships adding Quick Service bays and Ford- pioneered " Quick Lane " service that takes customer experience to the next level in terms of comfort and convenience. The new Quick Service bays are staffed by a pair of technicians and stocked with fast moving parts required for normal service and maintenance within arm's reach. Quick Lane offers choice, transparency and convenience for basic quick services and light repairs. Ford plans to take these concepts to more cities and towns across India by year-end. The All New Ford Ecosport will carry a 2 year / 100,000 KM warranty. The vehicle also comes with a two year Roadside Assistance (RSA) support, available through a national toll-free number that covers as much as 85 percent of the customer base and provides on-site assistance for minor repairs including fuel delivery, jumpstart, vehicle unlocking and towing. Customers can extend their vehicle warranty up to four years from date of purchase by purchasing Ford Extended Warranty. They can also avail extended packages such as Scheduled Service plans and Total Maintenance plans. Ford's Service Holiday is a customized product covering Scheduled Service and Non-Scheduled repairs up to three years at a reduced rate. Fully transferable, the plan protects against inflation on the covered components and labour costs. Extended reach of service   With 260 outlets at over 138 cities and towns of India, the Blue Oval is fully geared up to meet service needs of customers. Further, to support upcountry locations, Ford's Mobile Service Vans will be available at around 20 locations. With new parts distribution centres in Chennai, Manesar, Mumbai and Kolkata, the customers can get the right parts, on time, every time. "Whether it is amazing fuel-efficiency, ease of service availability, frequency and cost of service, and the replacement cost of critical parts, customers will be pleasantly surprised with the entire EcoSport ownership experience," Umashankar concluded. About Ford in India Established in 1995, Ford India is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader. Ford India manufactures and distributes automobiles and engines made at its modern integrated manufacturing facilities at Maraimalai Nagar, near Chennai. The company's models include the Figo, Ford Classic, Endeavour and the global Fiesta. Ford's operations in the country also include Global Business Services, comprised of Ford Business Services Center and Ford Technology Services India. Located in Chennai, New Delhi and Coimbatore, these units support Ford globally in the areas of IT, accounting and finance, financial services and automotive operations support, global analytics and engineering services. Ford's businesses in India employ 11,500 hard-working, dedicated men and women. For more information, visit www.india.ford.com ENDS via Technology - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHvFGfs2DjA5uiNX9PK_MM5rOezMg&url=http://www.rushlane.com/ford-ecosport-low-cost-ownership-1278838.html

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