Ford sales spike in China
Ford has reported record sales in China for the first month of 2016, with sales jumping 36% compared to January 2015.
It sold 130,832 vehicles last month, with strong sales in Escorts, Mondeos and Ford’s sport utility fleet driving the increase.
Changan Ford Automobile, Ford’s passenger car joint venture, also achieved records figures with 111,856 vehicles delivered, marking a 58% rise. The Ford registered 28,980 models sold, a six-fold increase compared to January 2015, while the new Mondeo sold more than 15,000 vehicles, up 33%.
Monthly sales of the Ford’s SUV’s range – Ecosport, Kuga, Edge, Explorer and Everest – totalled 37,411 units, representing a 75% boost on last year’s figures.
By contrast, Jiangling Motors Corporation, Ford’s commercial vehicle investment in China, reported a 24% fall in demand, to 17,255 vehicles last month, reflecting the weakness in the overall commercial vehicle industry.
Meanwhile, the company has announced it will build a new assembly plant in Mexico which should add 500,000 units of annual Mexican capacity by 2018.
The new assembly plant will be built in San Luis Potosi while Ford will also expand an existing factory near Mexico City.
