Ford India opens new showroom

Alok Agarwal
12 October 2001

Mumbai: On their last visit to Mumbai last month, on the occasion of the launch of the new-look Ford Ikon, Ford India officials had said that they were planning to strengthen their marketing and distributorship network in India. What better place than Mumbai to make a beginning.

On 10 October, the company opened a new dealer showroom in the metropolis - Shaman Ford, Altamount Road, a swanky south Mumbai borough. The third full-fledged dealership of Ford India in Mumbai after Wasan Ford and Shakti Ford, Shaman Ford is a joint venture between Ford India and the Shaman group, promoted by Jatin Seth, which has interests in real estate, finance, investment and newspapers.

Seth is the owner-director of the noted Janmabhoomi group of newspapers. Shaman Ford will offer the complete array of Ford Ikon models including the CLKi (petrol), 1.6 Rally Sport, the 1.6 ZXi (petrol) and the 1.8 ZXi (diesel).

Speaking on the occasion Ford India MD David Friedman said: Mumbai, especially the western region, is a very important market for us. With Shaman Ford we hope to service Mumbai consumers much better.

He said Shaman Ford, through its large workshop, would offer sales, service, spare-parts and accessories support to its customers. Shaman Ford has also made arrangements to offer on-the-spot credit facilities to its customers through ICICI and Ford Credit.

Gracing the occasion as chief guest, Bollywood actress Nandita Das said: I am here neither as a Bollywood personality nor as an expert on cars. I am here as the niece of Seth, who is my beloved uncle. She admitted knowing nothing about cars, and in a lighter vein added that it did not matter which car one owned as long as it is possible to successfully transport its occupants from one point to another. She wished the venture every success.