Ford to create $195 million tech, business center in India

Ford Motor Co. today said it will invest $195 million and create 3,000 jobs over the next five years for a new global technology and business center in Chennai, India.

The automaker will consolidate 9,000 existing employees across six India operations at the six-building, 28-acre campus. When complete in 2019, the Chennai campus, with some 12,000 employees, will become Ford’s second-largest employment center behind its Dearborn, Mich., campus, which is undergoing a massive, 10-year renovation.

The India site will house engineers, IT, finance, accounting, data analytics and manufacturing engineering. Ford said it will include a wide range of labs and testing facilities for complete vehicle and component testing.

“India is not only a vibrant market for cars and new mobility ideas, it also is rich with talent, technical expertise and ingenuity,” Executive Chairman Bill Ford said in a statement. “This new center will help us attract the best and brightest, and make Chennai a true hub of innovation for Ford around the world.”

The Chennai site will be Ford’s third global product development center in the Asia Pacific region, and will be Ford’s second-largest IT organization outside of the company’s headquarters.

The site will feature 2.5 million square feet of floor space. It will include three office buildings, a learning and development center, a canteen and a product development center.

All buildings will include LED lights, solar panels, and a water treatment plant and rainwater tanks. Other amenities include a fitness center, yoga center, medical facilities and a child care center, Ford said.