Ford is reportedly considering converting its idle Maraimalai Nagar plant near Chennai, Tamil Nadu, into an electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing facility for the Asia-Pacific region, potentially producing affordable EVs as well as cells, batteries, electric motors and other core components.

According to reports, people familiar with the matter suggest that Ford could undertake a brownfield expansion of the existing facility to support EV assembly and the local production of key EV components. The site could subsequently be used to produce affordable EVs for the Asia-Pacific region, with most of the output potentially destined for export markets rather than domestic sales.

The reported plan could increase the localisation of EV components at the Chennai facility and potentially reduce production costs. However, the developments remain unconfirmed, and Ford's official position is that its previously announced plan for export-only powertrain manufacturing at the site remains unchanged.

A Ford spokesperson said there had been no change to the company's export-focused powertrain manufacturing plans announced last year. Ford has not previously disclosed the type of powertrain that will be produced or the markets to which it will be exported, and the spokesperson did not provide further details.

An integrated EV and battery manufacturing facility at Maraimalai Nagar could involve an investment of Rs. 150-200 billion (US$ 1.5-2 billion), according to industry estimates. Ford, however, has officially confirmed only an investment of INR 32.5 billion under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with the Tamil Nadu government in October 2025. The investment, equivalent to Rs. 32.5 billion, is intended to restart operations at the site through export-focused powertrain manufacturing, with production expected to begin in 2029 and a reported annual capacity of about 235,000 units.

There is currently no information about which EV models Ford could potentially manufacture in India. Globally, the company is developing a new Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) platform for affordable EVs, which could potentially be used for India-made models if the reported project proceeds. The platform is scheduled to debut in Ford's new entry-level electric pickup truck, the Fathom, in early 2027. Ford says the UEV platform will support multiple body styles, ranging from B-segment cars to commercial vehicles.

The reported developments do not indicate that Ford intends to re-enter the Indian passenger vehicle market. The company announced in September 2021 that it would cease vehicle manufacturing in India, winding down vehicle assembly at its Sanand plant in Gujarat by the end of 2021 and vehicle and engine manufacturing at its Chennai-area facility by mid-2022. Ford sold the Sanand plant to Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Limited (TPEML) in 2023, but continues to own the Maraimalai Nagar facility near Chennai.

More recently, Ford signed an MoU with the Tamil Nadu government to restart operations at the Maraimalai Nagar site through export-oriented powertrain manufacturing. In July 2026, a Ford delegation led by Vice President Mathew Godlewski met Tamil Nadu government officials to discuss manufacturing activities at Maraimalai Nagar, the expansion of Ford's Global Capability Centres and possible future investment. However, the meeting did not confirm the reported EV manufacturing project.

The potential conversion of the Maraimalai Nagar facility into an integrated EV and battery manufacturing facility therefore remains a reported proposal rather than an officially confirmed Ford project. The company's stated plan continues to be export-only powertrain manufacturing, while the type of powertrain, export markets and any possible future EV production at the site remain undisclosed.