After maintaining a tight leash on its product portfolio in the last eight years, Ford India is planning to launch a new car every year in the domestic passenger car market.

"We promise India a new car every year, starting with the Endeavour in the higher-end sports utility vehicle segment this year. We intend to establish our presence more strongly in those segments where we already have product offerings, as well as create more segments in the market with our new launches," said David Friedman, managing director and president of Ford India.

Industry observers say the Ford Fusion, a B-segment hatchback, the Focus, a C-segment sedan, and the Ranger, a pick-up built on the Endeavour platform, form Ford's line-up for the future.

Friedman declined to comment on whether the automobile giant had finalised these brands for India.

The company is also hoping to break even and make profits in the next financial year.

"We have achieved a cash break-even in 2000 and we are expecting to break even on our operations in 2004-05," said Vinay Piparsania, vice-president, external affairs, Ford India. Ford has invested Rs 1,700 crore (Rs 17 billion) in its Indian operations so far.

Ford has withdrawn the Escort, its initial product offering from India, and has focussed on various variants of the Ikon, and the C segment car Mondeo.

Ford has been using India has major outsourcing hub to leverage its international operations. Ford India exports completely knocked-down kits of the Ikon to Mexico and South Africa, components to China and completely built units of the Ikon to Nepal.

The company will export 28,000 Ikons this year.

Ford India, which is a subsidiary of Ford Motor Company, the world's second largest carmaker, entered the country with a joint venture with Mahindra and Mahindra in 1995.