Ford Motor and its Communist-government-dictated joint ventures sold 96,450 vehicles during August in its China sales tally. This is up 22% year-over-year. Edge SUV and Focus and Escort were largely responsible for the China sales increase in the world’s largest auto market that Ford belatedly entered. Year-to-date China sales for Ford, Changan Ford (CAF) and Jiangling Motor Corporation (JMC) have reached nearly 750,000 vehicles, up 8% compared to the same time last year.
“We continue to build momentum in China on the strength of the most comprehensive and exciting Ford lineup we have ever offered Chinese customers,” said Peter Fleet, vice president of Marketing, Sales and Service, Asia Pacific, and apparently a chief cliché engineer. “Our new product surge continues this month with the launch of the new Kuga SUV with SYNC 3.”
Monthly sales for CAF, Ford’s passenger car joint venture, totaled 75,228 vehicles, up 26% compared to August 2015. So far in 2016, CAF has sold 578,947 vehicles, up 13% compared to last year.
Sales of small vehicles helped, with the new for China Ford Focus up 92%. Sales of the Ford Escort are up 49% compared to August 2015. The Ford Edge was another leader for Ford, with year-to-date sales up more than three-fold. The Taurus, Ford’s flagship sedan, also continues to gain the share in non-premium large sedan segment in China.
JMC, Ford’s commercial vehicle investment in China also saw good August sales, selling 19,951 vehicles, a 16% increase compared to August 2015. However, year-to-date sales so far total 159,213 vehicles, down 3% compared to the same time last year.
