Changan Ford not to produce Kuga SUV in 2009

Shanghai, September 27 (Gasgoo.com) At the launching ceremony of its 2009 Ford Focus model on September 25, Changan Ford said it has no plan to locally produce the Ford Kuga SUV this year or next year for the Chinese market, said xinhuanet.com today.

The 2009 Ford Focus made by Changan Ford was put into the Chinese market on Thursday at a release event held in Hangzhou city near Shanghai. After the ceremony, a sales executive of the joint venture told reporters that the Ford Kuga SUV is not included in Changan Ford's current production plan because it is hard to predict the Chinese market in the coming three to 15 months.

Though it has delayed the Chinese production of the Ford Kuga SUV seemingly due to the gloomy market prospects, Changan Ford knows that the long-awaited compact SUV, if locally built in China, will be able to compete with the likes of the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.

Two major reasons have reportedly prompted Changan Ford's decision to drop: one is the strategic adjustment of Ford's global product development, with Ford SUV models to be developed in North America; another reason is that the local production of the Kuga SUV in China will further overload the limited capacity of Ford's Chinese joint venture.

The Ford Kuga is inspired by the iosis X concept that was revealed at the 2006 Paris Motor Show. The latest showcase for Ford's 'kinetic design', the Ford Kuga is powered by a 2.0 liter 136 PS Duratorq TDCi diesel engine. Kuga offers a rare blend of a wagon and SUV features together with coupe-like sporting qualities.

Launched at last fall's Frankfurt Motor, the Ford Kuga is the first crossover SUV designed and developed in-house by Ford Europe and is produced in Germany. Ford plans to build 45,000 units of the Europe-only this year.