Ford Motor China launches second manufacturing plant in Nanjing

Our Corporate Bureau
24 September 2007

Mumbai: Ford Motor's China joint venture, Changan Ford Mazda Automobile (CFMA), today officially launched operations at its new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Nanjing, China, where it will produce the latest small-car models for both the Ford and Mazda brands.

The new $510 million facility has an initial capacity of 160,000 vehicles per year that would boost Ford's total annual passenger car capacity in China to more than 410,000 vehicles.

During a formal ceremony in Nanjing, Alan Mulally, president and CEO, Ford Motor Company, and Hisakazu Imaki, president and CEO, Mazda, and Xu Bin, president, China South Industry Group, joined local Chinese government officials to inaugurate the new plant, and review its highly flexible and automated facilities, and advanced environmentally-friendly processes.

"Integrating, leveraging and growing Ford worldwide is one of our top priorities, and our China strategy is certainly a key component to making this happen," said Mulally. "This new state-of-the-art facility will significantly increase our capacity in China, and allow us to continue our rapid growth in the market," he explained.

"Working together with our JV partners at Changan Ford Mazda Automobile and Changan Ford Mazda Engine (CFME), we''ll continue to build and introduce the types of vehicle that Chinese customers really want, and are demanding," added Mulally.

CFMA is well known in China for its high quality cars, and after several years of considerable expansion, made its way into China's top 10 passenger-car makers in April. Ford has been one of the fastest growing brands in China, recording a whopping 87 per cent increase in sales between 2005 and 2006, and a further 29 per cent increase through the first eight months of this year, with total retail sales of 114,702 vehicles.