Ford's Chinese joint venture, Changan Ford Mazda Automobile (CFMA), has begun operations at its new manufacturing facility in Nanjing, China, where it will produce the latest small-car models for the Ford and Mazda brands.
The $510m facility has an initial capacity of 160,000 vehicles per year, boosting Ford's total annual passenger car capacity in China to more than 410,000 vehicles. The small-car plant is located in Nanjing's Jiangning Economic and Technological Development Zone - adjacent to the recently launched Changan Ford Mazda Engine Company.
Ford has been one of the fastest growing brands in China, recording a 87 percent increase in sales between 2005 and 2006, and a further 29 percent increase through the first eight months of this year, with total retail sales of 114,702 vehicles.
With the inauguration of the Nanjing plant, CFMA will be able to offer a more diversified range of products for different market segments – including small cars, mid-sized and full-sized sedans. CFMA’s first vehicle assembly plant in Chongqing currently produces the Ford Focus, Ford Mondeo, Ford S-MAX, Volvo S40 and Mazda3, and has an annual capacity of 250,000 vehicles.
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I think that a network inclusive of the vehicles on it would make sense. However it remains to be seen if there is any plan for it to be for the...