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.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
