Ford China Vehicle Sales Up From August 2015 to August 2016

• September 9, 2016
• By Rajesh Namase
• 0

Ford China along with its JV partners has sold significantly more vehicles in China this August than last August. In particular, sales of the Ford Escort, Focus and the Edge SUV contributed to the 22% increase in sales in August 2016 over 2015.

Through January to August 2016, sales for Ford Motors and its joint venture partners, Changan Ford (CAF) and Jiangling Motor Corp. (JMC), reached almost 750,000 vehicles which was 8% more than the same period in 2015. Peter Fleet, marketing vice president for Ford Asia Pacific, put this increase in Ford China sales down to a ‘comprehensive and exciting Ford lineup.’

Ford China JV Partners Doing Well

Ford now has a good range of vehicles to suit the Chinese market and now has a good momentum going throughout the country. Changan Ford performed very well, enjoying a 26% increase in sales for August. Changan Ford is based in Chongqing in south-west China.  It is a joint venture between Ford Motor Company, Mazda and the Chang’an Automobile Group.

New Ford Kuga SUV With Sync 3 and CarPlay

Ford’s product range in China is to expand this month with the introduction of the new Ford Kuga SUV with Sync 3. Using Sync 3, drivers are able to control a number of functions such as audio controls, navigation and connected smartphones using simple voice commands.

This is the type of technology the Chinese love. Apple CarPlay allows the driver to control an iPhone so accessing services such as music, directions, messaging and calls are made much safer.  CarPlay allows drivers to focus more on driving and less on in-car distractions.

Ford China Sales of Escort and Focus Increase

The Chinese tend to prefer smaller vehicles than in the US. Models such as the Ford Escort (up 49% compared to August 2015) and the Ford Focus (up 92%) are particularly good sellers.

Ford’s commercial vehicle sales in China are handled by the Jiangling Motor Corporation, situated in Hubei in central China. Reported August sales were up 16% on last August, although sales for January to August 2016 were down 3% on the same period in 2015. Generally, for Ford, China has become an excellent market, particularly with regard to hi-tech smaller vehicles.