Ford Faces China Hurdles

[HSE2]

BY NORIHIKO SHIROUZU
BEIJING—Ford Motor Co. is facing stiff industrywide regulatory obstacles to future growth in China, even as the auto maker launches a $490 million plant to boost its presence there.

The plant opened Friday in the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing—its third passenger-car plant and fourth overall assembly plant in China—will give it much-needed capacity to help propel sales.

Ford lags far behind General Motors Co. and other global rivals in penetrating China's market, the world's biggest in the number of vehicles sold.

Last year, Ford sold 519,390 vehicles in China, including passenger cars and commercial vans. That number was up ...




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[phillyc]

I'm guessing that China want some further co-operation or vehicle secrets that they've acquired legimately (rather than hacking).

[FTe217]

phillyc hehe I like your thought but I doubt it re the more vehicle secrets or partnerships for strategic purpose's.
They already have all that from all they want or more to the point Euro and US companies went their with open arms long ago just Ford is playing the usual "catch up".......
Having been doing/going there for business the last 5yrs Ford is typically behind in the sales race naturally being a supporter I look out for them.
Logistically for a start is a mammoth task - then to find suitable Distributers of the brand etcetc.....
VW,GM/China invested long long ago and are flying - naturally their own chinese brands then fill in parts of Top10 sellers then followed by Toyota/Honda and here I'm talking main stream volume sellers.
I hope Ford can break in more and start getting more units sold which in time it will.