Ford China '08 auto sales reach 306,300 units

Shanghai, January 16 (Gasgoo.com) In 2008, U.S. auto giant Ford Motor sold in the China market a combined 306,306 units of its locally-made and imported models, said xinhuanet.com today, citing the company's latest report.

The Ford China sales volume in 2008 includes 204,334 passenger vehicles (excluding the Mazda cars) sold by the joint venture Changan Ford Mazda based in Chongqing city, and 95,171 commercial vehicles sold by its another Chinese venture Jiangling Motors, which makes Ford Transit vans and Jiangling brand vans and pick-up trucks.

The Ford Transit van series made by Jiangxi-based Jiangling Motors sold 27,472 units last year, up 3% from 2007. Sales of Ford's commercial vehicle tie-up were fully accounted for in its overall China sales in 2008 for the first time. Previously, only sales of Transit models were accounted for.

In 2007, Ford Motor delivered to the Chinese market 216,324 domestically-made models and imports under the Ford, Lincoln, Volvo, Jaguar and Land Rover brands, up 30% from the previous year. Ford China did not offer its 2008 sales growth rate due to the different calculation from 2007. 

Ford Motor launched several new models in China in 2008, including the upgraded 2009 Ford Focus sedan, all-new S-MAX SUV, new-generation Transit van and the new Ford Mondeo family car.