Ford Motor Co would stop making cars in India and shut down both of its plants in the country, two sources told the Reuters on Thursday, becoming the latest automaker to exit the market. Ford made the decision as it was not profitable for it to continue, said one of the sources, adding that the process would take about a year to complete. 

The US automaker would continue to sell some of its cars in the country through imports, said the second source, adding that it would also provide support to dealers to service existing customers. Ford did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. 

Ford is the latest carmaker to cease production in India, following companies such as General Motors and Harley Davidson to exit a market which once promised exponential growth. Ford has struggled to win over India’s frugal buyers and turn profitable in a market dominated by mainly low-cost cars made by Suzuki Motor Corp and Hyundai Motor. 

The decision to stop local production came after Ford had ended its partnership with domestic carmaker Mahindra & Mahindra. The tie-up would have ended most of Ford’s independent operations in India but allowed it to launch new vehicles faster at a reduced cost and with lower investment. 

Ford had entered India 25 years ago but has less than a 2 per cent share of the passenger vehicles market in the world’s second-most populous nation.