Ford’s Chinese joint venture, Changan Automobile, has said it expects to double its sales in China this year, according to Reuters.
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It sold over 61,000 cars in 2005, but expects growth this year to come from the launch of the Focus, in its first full year of sales this year. The Focus is selling at a rate of 5,000 units a month. In addition the Mazda 3, produced by the joint venture, goes on sale later this month.
Ford sold a total of 220,000 units in China in 2005 and is investing US$1bn to build a new plant in Chongqing with 200,000 units capacity. It is also building another plant in Nanjing with Changan Automobile. This would have 160,000 unit capacity. Both plants are due to come on-stream during 2007.
