03:31 AM EDT, 09/12/2024 (MT Newswires) -- (Updates with a comment from Ford in the last paragraph).

Ford Motor ( F ) and India's southern state of Tamil Nadu are discussing producing vehicles for export in the region, media outlets reported Wednesday, citing Tamil Nadu's chief minister M.K. Stalin.

In a post on X, Stalin said that they had a "very engaging discussion" with the company. "Explored the feasibility of renewing Ford's three decade partnership with Tamil Nadu, to again make in Tamil Nadu for the world."

Ford stopped making vehicles in India in 2021 and has less than 2% of the Indian market, according to the reports.

In a comment to MT Newswires, a Ford spokesperson said the company continues to explore alternatives for its plant in Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu state, and has "nothing further to add at this stage."