Though the company officials are tightlipped about the probable destination of the exports, South Africa and Mexico are the two countries which are expected to import the kits.

The CKD plant or the export plant, as it is also called, was set up with the objective of making India the manufacturing hub for Ikon. With the skilled labour coming out of the learning curve, the idea was to feed Ikon into select markets in CKD form, to begin with and later follow it up with exports of fully built cars once the importing markets are comfortable with the product. This strategy will also enable the Ford India to meet its export obligations which commences next fiscal.

Ford India has been working closely with its suppliers to ensure that most of them attain quality levels that will enable the company to source the components for exports also. Most suppliers are likely to make it which will go a long way in improving their economies of scale. Engine and transmission equipment, which are presently imported, will not form part of the kit.

Petrol engines are sourced from South Africa while the diesel engines come from UK's Dagenham plant. CKD importing countries will procure the engine directly from South Africa and the UK facilities of Ford.

As co-ordination and logistics play vital role in the CKD facility, management level changes have already been effected to take into account the CKD operation. Employees have been trained so as to ensure that each and every part of the kit are properly accounted for and packed.