Autoblog

Ford finally takes serious aim at the Chinese market

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: China, Plants/Manufacturing, Ford

When we asked Volkswagen last year why it was building a factory in the U.S., after having missed the irrationally volcanic era of car sales, we were told that even a 12-million-per-annum market was still too big to ignore. A report in Reuters paints Ford's situation in China somewhat the same way: Ford is only now attacking the Chinese market, building plants and increasing local capacity there, after numerous other players have established their positions.

Nevertheless, there's still much to play for. Whereas our market is expected to hang around in the 12- to 15-million-unit range, China's market is predicted to hit 30 million cars per year by 2020. Said one analyst, "People are saying the Asia Pacific auto industry by 2020 is half the world's industry." A little piece of China's colossal market will, anywhere else, still be considered a pretty big piece of pie.

After years of false starts and missteps in The Middle Kingdom, Ford sells six cars in China now, but they weren't developed for the Chinese market and haven't taken off with buyers there. Over the next three years Ford intends to introduce 15 more cars, many of them SUVs, and 20 engines to the Chinese market that can make better impressions on the locals.

That won't put it anywhere close to market leaders General Motors - which already sells 35 cars there and is lining up 60 more models, and has the preeminient Buick brand - or Volkswagen. But even the 3.1 percent share that one analyst predicted was in Ford's reach by 2020, up from 2.8 percent now, will be enough to turn Ford's currently desultory Chinese-market profits into something like a $700-million spigot once its production and offerings are stabilized.

Ford is investing $600 million and $760 million in two projects with its JV partner Changan Ford Mazda Automobile to expand capacity to 1.5 million autos per year. At the moment, The Blue Oval has no plans to take Lincoln across the Pacific.

Ford finally takes serious aim at the Chinese market originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 May 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford announces new plant to double capacity in China

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: China, Plants/Manufacturing, Ford, Earnings/Financials

At present, Ford has the capacity, through its joint venture Changan Ford Mazda Automobile, to build about 600,000 vehicles per year in China. That's not enough to sustain the brand's expected growth, so it makes sense that the automaker has officially announced plans to build a new facility in Hangzhou.

This $760 million expansion will bring Ford's total investment in China to $4.9 billion, and it will double the automaker's production capacity in that country by 2015. Ford calls this its most rapid expansion in 50 years - not surprising, given that the Chinese automobile market is expected to crest 30 million vehicles by 2020 - and it will make this region in China its largest manufacturing base outside its traditional playground in Southeast Michigan.

Ford isn't saying what vehicle(s) it plans to build at this new Chinese plant, but it is suggesting that it will increase its available models from five to 15, along with 20 new powertrain options, by 2015. Feel free to read Ford's official press release by scrolling down below.

Continue reading Ford announces new plant to double capacity in China

Ford announces new plant to double capacity in China originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford projecting 50% sales growth by 2015

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 17:28:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, China, Ford, India

Alan Mulally has done a lot of good for the Blue Oval brand, but the Ford CEO still has big plans for the automaker. In fact, Mulally's goal is to see a 50 percent increase in global sales by the year 2015. An ambitious target, which would see Ford selling nearly eight million vehicles around the world.

How does Mulally expect to achieve this substantial growth? According to USA Today, Ford plans to increase its footprint in the growing markets in Africa and Asia, with a specific focus on the Chinese car-buying public. Small cars will be the key to increased sales in those markets. Ford hopes to make make money on these lower-margin vehicles through sheer volume thanks to the growth potential of these still-emerging markets.

Ford projecting 50% sales growth by 2015 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Ford adding 100 dealers in China

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: China, Plants/Manufacturing, Ford, India

According to Ford, 70 percent of the company's growth in the next decade will come from the Asia-Pacific region and Africa. The Blue Oval had only planned to have 310 dealerships in China at the end of 2010, but having sold nearly half a million cars this year and expecting the boom to continue, the number has jumped to 340 dealers. This is part of Ford's larger plan to add 100 new dealerships in China, mostly in smaller cities and inland provinces where new car demand is high.

Ford is planning a new plant with its Chinese joint venture partner, Changan, and will introduce four more models into the Chinese market next year, including the 2011 Edge. Elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific market, Ford has already spent $500 million on increasing production capacity in India, where it now sells the Figo subcompact.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req. | Image: STR/AFP/Getty]

Report: Ford adding 100 dealers in China originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Nov 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Ford preparing to export Edge to China

Chris Shunk — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: China, Crossover, Ford

2011 Ford Edge Sport - Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2011 Edge is just beginning to hit dealer showrooms, but not just in North America. Ford is also routing the popular crossover to China in an effort to quench the world's largest auto market's thirst for crossovers. The Detroit News reports that Ford plans to ship between 4,000 and 5,000 copies of the refreshed CUV in the next year, helping the automaker add to its 2.6 percent market share in the still emerging market. Ford will need to charge more for the Edge in China than it does in the U.S., primarily due to the high tariffs which can reach upwards of 25 percent for imported vehicles.

Ford's China operation is excited to have a new product in the fold and Ford North America gets a busier plant and improved economies of scale. The Edge is the first North American product to be imported to China, but Ford is said to be considering more North America exports in the future..

Gallery: 2011 Ford Edge: First Drive

[Source: Detroit News]
Photos Copyright (C)2010 Zach Bowman / AOL

Report: Ford preparing to export Edge to China originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford of China builds 500,000th Focus in Chongqing

Zach Bowman — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, China, Plants/Manufacturing, Hatchback, Ford, Earnings/Financials

The 500,000th Focus from Chongqing - Click here for the full press release

Ford has just churned out the 500,000th Focus at its Chongqing plant in China. The company's compact was first introduced to the Chinese market in 2005, where it has done well ever since. Ford says that January saw Focus sales explode, with 17,151 units rolling off of dealer lots that month alone. That figure marks a 78 percent sales increase over the same time last year.

The Chongqing plant currently builds both four- and five-door Focus models, and will also start kicking out the next-generation car in 2012 after the new global platform gets introduced to the European and American markets. Hit the jump for the full press release.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford of China builds 500,000th Focus in Chongqing

Ford of China builds 500,000th Focus in Chongqing originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pics Aplenty: Ford unveils Fiesta S in China

Noah Joseph — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: China, Hatchback, Ford, Misc. Auto Shows

Click above to view the Ford Fiesta S in hi-res

China will undoubtedly be an important market for the new Ford Fiesta. Originally unveiled in European spec at the Geneva Motor Show last month, the Chinese version has just made its debut this week at the Auto China show in Beijing. The Chinese Fiesta is scheduled begin production before the end of the year at Ford's $510 million Changan Ford Mazda Automobile (CFMA) plant in Nanjing, China.

Styling is by and large the same as its European counterpart, only the Beijing show car, displayed in S trim, features a sportier, more aggressive trim package that could preview what a future hot-hatch Fiesta ST or RS could look like. Did Ford hit the sweet spot in Geneva or in Beijing? Take a look at the Chinese and European versions in the galleries below and share your thoughts in the comments.

Gallery: 2009 Ford Fiesta S - China

Gallery: 2009 Ford Fiesta

[Source: Ford]

Pics Aplenty: Ford unveils Fiesta S in China originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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