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Ford Motor Company Announces Expanding Operations, New Products, And Global Synergies In China Market


WEBWIRE

Ford Motor Company today made several strategic announcements to support its forward-moving business direction in China, highlighting the company’s rapidly expanding presence and increasingly competitive position in the world’s second largest automotive market.


During a formal press conference at the Ford stand, Mei-Wei Cheng, vice president of Ford Motor Company and chairman & CEO of Ford Motor China, announced that:


The official start of volume production at the Changan Ford Mazda Engine Company will come very soon
The vehicle production at the new Nanjing facility, Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Company (CFMA) will begin before the end of the year
The third generation Ford Mondeo will start production at Changan Ford Mazda Automobile’s Chongqing plant later this year
An all-new Ford small car will be produced at Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Company Nanjing plant in 2008

Additionally, Cheng referred to Ford Motor Research & Engineering ( Nanjing) Co. Ltd. in his speech, which received government approval in March, and its role as an integral part of Ford Motor Company’s global research & design, he said this new operation will enhance Ford China’s local engineering capabilities, as well as strengthening the sourcing capability for manufacturing in China and to support Ford Motor’s global manufacturing.


“ These collective announcements underscore Ford Motor’s commitment to the China market and China’s growing importance to our overall global strategy. Ford Motor China now encompasses one of the most comprehensive and competitive operations in the Chinese market, including full-scale vehicle and engine production; research, development and engineering; sales; aftersales services; and auto financing. Our local partnerships and the smooth implementation of our China strategy have greatly contributed to Ford becoming a leader of China’s automobile market" said Mr. Cheng.


“Ford’s complete line up of cars in China now includes premiere and mid-size vehicles, small cars, SAVs, SUVs, and commercial vehicles,” continued Mr. Cheng.


The sleek, third generation Ford Mondeo, which starred in the latest James Bond movie, “Casino Royale”, embodies Ford’s special European ’kinetic design’ language and world-class technology. It follows in the footsteps of the ’ Car of the Year 2007’ S-MAX, as the next Ford model to be produced in China.


“Our hugely successful European products have also proven to be very popular among Chinese consumers. From the hot selling Focus to the eye-catching S-MAX, and now the sleek Mondeo, Ford will continue to introduce our latest auto design engineering concepts to the China market. This will be supported by our renowned professional sales and aftersales services, as well as our creative ‘Make Every Day Exciting’ brand campaign,” said Mr. Cheng.


Ford Motor Company and its five affiliated brands are showcasing 52 exciting vehicles at its Auto Shanghai 2007 stand. In addition to the third generation Mondeo, Ford will showcase its ’kinetic design’ language with the sculpted 5-door iosis X sports crossover concept; the CFMA produced S-MAX; and the C-MAX, which is making its first China appearance. The wildly-popular Ford Focus lineup will also be featured on the Ford stand, including the 2007 Focus, the European-imported Focus ST, 2006 Focus RS ’ World Rally Car’ , and the Focus China Circuit Championship Racing Car.


Ford Motor Company and CFMA have become one of the leaders in China’s burgeoning auto industry, recording an impressive 86.6 percent year-on-year increase in China market sales for 2006, far ahead of the overall industry average. CFMA’s first quarter sales have totaled 38,908 units, or a 40.8 percent increase over the same period a year ago.

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., U.S.A., manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. The company’s automotive brands available in the China market include Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, and Volvo, as well as automotive-related services that include QualityCare, and Ford Credit via Ford Automotive Financing (China) Co., Ltd. (FAFC).

Ford’s history in China can be traced to 1913, when the first Model T was imported and sold in Shanghai. In 2001, a joint venture was formed with Changan Automotive Corporation Ltd., called Changan Ford Automobile Corporation Ltd. (Changan Ford). With an investment from Mazda in March 2006, the company was restructured and renamed as Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Co., Ltd. (CFMA). Additionally, Ford owns a 30 percent share of Jiangling Motors Corporation Ltd., which produces the Ford Transit commercial vehicle.

Changan Ford’s second passenger car plant and new three-way engine plant joint venture - Changan Ford Mazda Engine Company Co., Ltd., are both in Nanjing and scheduled to go online in 2007.



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