The news that Tata Group is in talks to move in and acquire two Ford India plants is raising the hopes of Ford India employees who desire a new employment under a prospective buyer after Ford moves out of India. Union representatives are reportedly hoping for the acquisition in order to safeguard the future of Ford's employees in Chennai in Gujarat.
Although Ford India has denied any such move, news reports have emerged of Tata Group representatives meeting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, Industries Minister Thangam Thennarasu, and senior state government officials on October 6. Late last month a Tata Motors delegation led by its Executive Director Girish Wagh had met Stalin.
Anurag Mehrotra, former President and Managing Director has joined Tata Motors as Vice President, International Business and Strategy, Commercial Vehicle Business Unit, fuelling greater speculation that some kind of acquisition may occur.
Ford India has four vehicle and engine plants in Chennai and Gujarat. On September 9, the company announced it was shutting down operations and moving out of India with the Gujarat plant's activities winding up by 2021 end and the Chennai plant by 2022. More than 500 workers in the Gujarat plant would continue supporting Ford, the company said, thought the future of the 2700 associates and 600 staff in Chennai remained uncertain. It is estimated that Ford has a total of 5300 employees in India who now want any prospective buyer to hire them.