Ford China Feb car sales up 37.5% to 18,193 units

Shanghai, March 2 (Gasgoo.com) Ford Motor sold 18,193 passenger cars in China last month, up 37.5% from a year earlier, the company's Chinese venture Changan Ford said yesterday, Dow Jones reported.

Sales of the Ford Focus rose more than 22% from a year earlier to 9,425 units, representing its best February sales since being launched in 2005. Ford Mondeo also achieved its best-ever February sales, up more than 24% from a year ago while Ford S-MAX recorded a significant 85% jump in sales.

The Ford Fiesta continued its strong sales in February of 4,857 units, boosting total sales to 59,362 units since its launch last year. The Fiesta has won the "Best Small Car of 2010" from sina.com and "Small Car of the Year" from China Auto Pictorial.

In January, Ford's passenger car sales in China more than doubled to 30,759 units. February is traditionally a slower month for auto sales in China as the week-long Lunar New Year holiday usually falls in that month. It fell in late January last year.

Ford operates a passenger vehicle joint venture in China with Mazda Motor and Chongqing Changan Auto. It also has a commercial vehicle-making joint venture, Jiangling Motors, where the Ford Transit Classic van is built.