American auto giant, Ford has said hinted that it might start exporting the right hand drive Eco-Sport model, which will be produced in the company's plant outside Chennai in southern India, to South African market.

Ford Eco-Sport is expected to be launched in the Indian market soon and there are indications that the model will also be exported to South Africa because of the similarities between the two markets. The company is expected to offer 1.5-litre diesel engine variant of the car along as well as the 1.0-litre 128bhp Ecoboost petrol engine version.

On the other hand, the company will export only the 1.0-litre 128bhp Ecoboost petrol engine version to the South African market from India. The model will join the existing offering of Ford Kuga compact SUV, new Ford Fiesta as well as the Transit van in the South African market. Ford has already launched the Eco-Sport in China, Brazil and Argentina and the model has achieved considerable success in these markets.

Meanwhile, there are reports indicating that the delay in the launch of the model in India is because the company is aiming to achieve some level of localization in the model in order to price it aggressively in the Indian market.