Ford Motor (F) has released plans suggesting an intense focus on its operations in China and India. The company looks forward to adding 250,000 units to its annual production capacity, taking both countries into account. Ford Motor has announced the launch of production of its small car, Figo, in India in the first quarter of 2010. The decision was backed by a $500 million investment in the company’s existing Maraimalai Nagar, Chennai, plant for expansion. The company has committed to invest more than $950 million in total in the plant. The expansion will make India one of the company’s strategic production hubs, with output potential doubled to 200,000 vehicles annually. The Chennai plant has already been producing Ford models -- including the Ford Ikon, Ford Fiesta, Ford Fusion and Ford Endeavor -- for the Indian market only. However, Figo -- priced at $10,000 -- will be ...

By Adam Lass, Senior Editor, Taipan Publishing Group

This American company has gained 777% the old-fashioned way: selling junk in backroom deals.

As regular readers know, I am a Ford man.

Back when I was a kid, you had to make three really important choices. First, you had to pick a political party. Didn’t matter how well you knew the candidates – you picked a party and that’s what you were.

We are talking Democrat or Republican here. Libertarians weren’t much discussed, and backing the Socialists could get your parents blackballed at work. And if you wanted peace around the dinner table, you just went with the same side your folks did.

Second, you had to choose “your” baseball, basketball and football teams. We didn’t have rotisserie leagues back then, so there was no “à la carte.” You picked your guys, and you defended their every move in the schoolyard and on

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This American company has gained 777% the old-fashioned way: selling junk in backroom deals. As regular readers know, I am a Ford man. Back when I was a kid, you had to make three really important choices. First, you had to pick a political party. Didn’t matter how well you knew the candidates – you picked a party and that’s what you were. We are talking Democrat or Republican here. Libertarians weren’t much discussed, and backing the Socialists could get your parents blackballed at work. And if you wanted peace around the dinner table, you just went with the same side your folks did. Second, you had to choose “your” baseball, basketball and football teams. We didn’t have rotisserie leagues back then, so there was no “à la carte.” You picked your guys, and you defended their every move in the schoolyard and on the stoop – with fists if need be. Prudent Choices To this ...

Ford Motor (F) has released plans suggesting an intense focus on its operations in China and India. The company looks forward to adding 250,000 units to its annual production capacity, taking both the countries into account. Ford Motor has announced the launch of production of its small car, Figo, in India in the first quarter of 2010. The decision was backed by a $500 million investment in the company’s existing Maraimalai Nagar, Chennai, plant for expansion. The company has committed to invest more than $950 million in total in the plant. The expansion will make India one of the company’s strategic production hubs, with output potential doubled to 200,000 vehicles annually. The Chennai plant has already been producing Ford models -- including the Ford Ikon, Ford Fiesta, Ford Fusion and Ford Endeavor -- for the Indian market only. However, Figo -- priced at $10,000 -- will ...