Ford enjoys brisk China sales in first three quarters of 2006

Ford Motor China said Wednesday that it sold out 106,237 units of automobiles under Ford brand in China from January to September of 2006, up 111 percent year on year.

Ford enjoyed the fastest automobile sales growth compared with other transnational auto makers in the country.

Meiwei Cheng, vice president of Ford and chairman of Ford Motor China, said the company's outstanding sales showed that Ford has achieved remarkable strategic development in China since 2005.

During the first nine months of this year, Chang'an Motor Corp, a joint venture of Ford Motor Company with China's No. 4 vehicle producer Chang'an Motor Corp, sold 87,930 units of automobiles, up 147 percent from 2005, Ford Motor China said.

While Jiangling Motor Corp, where Ford held 30 percent of shares, sold 16,315 units of commercial vehicles under Ford brand, an increase of 29 percent year on year.

Chang'an Ford is producing the Mondeo, Focus and Fiesta models and the Volvo S40. The venture with Jiangling makes the Transit commercial vehicle.

In a bid to facilitate its vehicle sales and expand business in China, the Detroit-based auto maker opened a vehicle finance company in the country in July last year.

By the end of 2006, the finance company will be able to offer Chinese car consumers credit service in 21 cities in the country.

Source: Xinhua