Ford Motor Co. and Indian automaker Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. have agreed to expand their partnership to powertrain sharing and connected car solutions, which will see the deployment of new technology for both companies' lineup of vehicles.

In an Oct. 17 release, the carmakers said the extended partnership builds on the strategic cooperation they formed in 2017, which includes projects focused on mobility, connected vehicles, electrification, sourcing and product development, among other initiatives.

Under the latest partnership, Mahindra will develop and supply a low-displacement petrol engine to Ford's Indian arm, which will be integrated into Ford's present and future vehicles, starting 2020. Ford said Mahindra's BS-VI compliant powertrain will help the U.S. carmaker extend and strengthen its existing offering of petrol engines.

The alliance will also co-develop a telematics control unit to be deployed across Mahindra and Ford vehicles.

The new deal follows Ford and Mahindra's agreement in March to jointly develop midsize and compact SUVs and small electric vehicles.

Reuters reported in September that Detroit-based Ford plans to use Mahindra as a benchmark to reduce supplier expenses in India.