Ford Territory name trademarked in India, to compete with Mahindra XUV700 and Tata Harrier

New Delhi. The possibility of Ford’s return to India has been a hot topic ever since it got the market excited in 2021. Although the American automaker has not made any official announcement, the recent spate of trademarks filed for India has fueled speculation about its return. According to trademark filings that have surfaced online, Ford is considering introducing the Territory SUV in the Indian market. This mid-size SUV is known as the Equator Sport in some international markets, but is known as the Territory in countries like Vietnam, China, Mexico and South Africa.

The Ford Territory makes a bold statement on the road with its imposing presence, highlighted by a large honeycomb grille, split headlights, attractive C-shaped LED DRLs and impressive alloy wheels. Inside, it offers two 12.3-inch screens, an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), connectivity features, a spacious boot, six airbags and a panoramic sunroof. There are two engine options to power this mid-size Ford model: a 1.5-litre and a 1.8-litre EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine. Although there is no official confirmation yet, industry reports suggest that Ford may bring this mid-size SUV to India by the end of next year. If launched, it will compete with models like Tata Harrier, Tata Safari and Mahindra XUV700 in the Indian market.

In January, the American carmaker filed a patent for the new Endeavor SUV. Similar to the Mustang Mach-E, it is expected to come to India as a completely built unit (CBU), which could result in a higher price. After launch, it will compete directly with vehicles like Toyota Fortuner and MG Gloster. Recently, the new Ford Endeavor was spotted for the first time in India, revealing key design elements like a straight tailgate, a refreshed rear bumper and distinctive inverted L-shaped LED tail lamps. Recently, a picture of the current generation model of Ford Endeavour, also known as Ford Everest across the world, was recently spotted on a loaded truck near Chennai. This is the first time we have seen the new Endeavor in India. The Ford model seen in India matches the design patent filed by the company.

The model captured is the Ford Everest Trend, which is the base version of the SUV in markets like Thailand and Australia. This next generation Endeavor is set to bring a whole new experience to the Indian customers when it hits the market. The latest update suggests that it may arrive in India even before 2025. The plan is to assemble the SUV locally at Ford’s Chennai factory.