Ford Making Strong Move into China
The Chinese-built Ford Focus will join three new SUVs at Ford (NYSE: F)'s stand at the upcoming Beijing motor show exhibiting the brand's aggressive strategy to crack the largest car market in the world.
The four models are the first of 15 new Fords bound for the Chinese market by 2015 and will follow in the footsteps of the currently available Ford Edge SUV.
Along with the Focus, the 2013 Ford Kuga (pictured below), due to hit Australian shores early in 2013, is also expected to be included in the line-up.
Proving just how significant the market is to Ford's new strategy, the Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Company, a joint venture between Ford, Mazda and Chongqing Changan Automobile, recently invested $US600 million ($583 million) into the Chinese plant to increase production for the future.
The goal is to raise annual production to 950,000 vehicles annually by 2014, an increase of more than 50 per cent, helping to achieve its global target of selling eight million cars per year by 2015.
Ford will offer a Mandarin-language version of its SYNC hands-free, voice-activated connectivity system in its new Chinese-built Focus for the first time when it reaches Chinese showrooms this quarter.
The move into China follows Ford Australia's confirmation that it will look to export about 100 Territory Titanium diesel models per year to Thailand.
Car Advice