New Delhi:Ford Motors on Thursday previewed its compact ‘EcoSport’ sport utility vehicle (SUV) at the ongoing Auto Expo 2012 here.

The new SUV will be sold in around 100 markets worldwide and will initially be produced at plants in India and Brazil, and subsequently in other markets to be announced later, the company said in a statement.

“India is an increasingly important auto market and EcoSport will play a significant role in Ford’s aggressive global plan to achieve a 50 per cent increase in worldwide sales by mid decade to 8 million vehicles a year,” the company said.

The Asia—Pacific and Africa are expected to contribute 60—70 per cent to that target.

EcoSport is the second of eight products the company plans to bring to India by mid decade. However, the company did not specify the expected time of launch and price of the car.

“Ford currently sells its cars at 200 dealer outlets in 110 cities in India and is planning to add 50 more outlets this year,” Ford India Executive Director, Marketing Sales and Service, Mr Niger Ewark, said.

Meanwhile, the company has chalked out plans to invest $ 142 million at its Chennai plant in India to manufacture the EcoSport.

The fresh investment will be over and above the $ 72 million that the company is pumping into the plant to augment powertrain capacity.

The capacity of the Chennai plant will remain at 2,00,000 units annually.