Ford, a relatively late starter in the market, will open 66 new dealerships in China by the end of the year, taking its tally of new dealerships there this year to 100 and total outlets to 340. The newer dealerships are located primarily in the fast-growing two- and three-tier cities located in western and northern China.
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“Following the call to ‘go west,’ we are expanding west and in developing cities in China where most of the future growth will come from,” said Ford China chief Joe Hinrichs. “We are on track to have a record sales year in China. We will also have a record year for sales in the Asia Pacific and Africa region as a whole.”
The new dealerships will be located in cities such as Liyang, Shijiazhuang, Harbin, Wanzhou in Chongqing and Anyang. Many of these cities, relatively unknown outside of China, have populations well over 1m people and will help lead the next wave of growth in the Chinese economy.
Ford and its joint venture Changan Ford Mazda Automotive Ltd. (CFMA) are building a new assembly plant in Chongqing, and just signed an agreement to build a new engine plant also in Chongqing. Ford is introducing the Edge SUV to China in mid-December.
Ford expects 70% of its growth in the next 10 years to come from its Asia Pacific and Africa region.
