Globalisation and the Indian Economy

CASE STUDY on Ford Motors

Taken from NCERT Text Book

Ford Motors, an American company, is one of the world’s largest automobile manufacturers with production spread over 26 countries of the world. Ford Motors came to India in 1995 and spent Rs. 1700 crore to set up a large plant near Chennai. This was done in collaboration with Mahindra and Mahindra, a major Indian manufacturer of jeeps and trucks. By the year 2004, Ford Motors was selling 27,000 cars in the Indian markets, while 24,000 cars were exported from India to South Africa, Mexico and Brazil. The company wants to develop Ford India as a component supplying base for its other plants across the globe.

Answer the following questions:

Question 1: Would you say Ford Motors is a MNC? Why?

Answer: Ford Motors has production facilities spread over 26 countries of the world. Hence, it can be termed an MNC.

Question 2: What is foreign investment? How much did Ford Motors invest in India?

Answer: The investment which comes from abroad is called foreign investment. Ford Motors had invested Rs. 1700 crore.

Question 3: By setting up their production plants in India, MNCs such as Ford Motors tap the advantage not only of the large markets that countries such as India provide, but also the lower costs of production. Explain the statement.

Answer: The cost of labour is cheaper in India; compared to the developed countries. This means that an MNC can save lot of money on wages and salaries by setting up production plants in India. This helps in lowering the cost of production. India itself is a large market with sizeable population of middle class and upper class and hence provides a big market for many products.

Question 4: Why do you think the company wants to develop India as a base for manufacturing car components for its global operations? Discuss the following factors:

(a) Cost of labour and other resources in India

Answer: Wages and salaries are much lower in India compared to in developed countries. Moreover, raw materials and power is also cheaper. This is a definite advantage which India offers as a production base.

(b) The presence of several local manufacturers who supply autoparts to Ford Motors

Answer: There are many companies which manufacture various auto-parts; like Sundaram Fasteners. Because of their lower cost of operation, these companies supply various parts at less price than price in the developed countries.

Answer: India and China together comprise about 30% of the world population and thus they provide a huge market for various companies. Making a production base in India provides easy access to these two markets.

Answer the following questions:

Question 5: In what ways will the production of cars by Ford Motors in India lead to interlinking of production?

Answer: The company is making engines and body at its plant. It is procuring other components from various suppliers which operate in India. Even designing of some of the new models has been done in India. So, India is providing a perfect base for all the operations related to production of cars for the Ford Motor. Hence, it can be said that proper interlinking of production is happening in India for this company.

Question 6: In what ways is a MNC different from other companies?

Answer: An MNC does different operations related to its business at different locations across the globe. Other companies limit their operation to a single country or to a few countries. By doing so, an MNC is able to take advantage of cost benefit and also of easier access to important markets. This may not be possible for other companies.

Question 7: Nearly all major multinationals are American, Japanese or European, such as Nike, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Honda, Nokia. Can you guess why?

Answer: Industrialisation began from Europe and then spread to America and later to Japan. By the time India became independent; many companies of these countries had already become financially strong. This is the reason that most of the MNCs are from America, Europe or Japan.