Santhanam said: "The HM RTV Ambulances are built with a sturdy factory-fitted steel body, have life saving provisions and adequate space for the patient and attendants, apart from all necessary facilities and features for handling critical injuries."

They have emergency lights, foldable attendant and doctor seats, a rear foldable footrest, IV hooks, first aid kit, dual-purpose stretcher bed, a heavy duty stretcher with rollers and a standard stretcher, silicone ambu-bags, cervical collar, oxygen cylinder and masks as well as other standard equipment.

Thanking Ford and HM, Dr Solomon said: "These new ambulances are vital for providing comprehensive emergency road accident response. They will patrol the highway and can be reached through our 24 / 7 helpline 12703 or 28150700."

Ford has a strategic partnership with HM for the manufacture of automobile engines and transmissions in India. Engines and transmissions for the Ford Ikon and Ford Fusion are manufactured at HM''s state-of-the-art machining and assembly plant at Pithampur in Madhya Pradesh.