Ford Mondeo may be built in Nanjing as Chinese car

Shanghai, June 13 (Gasgoo.com) China's major automaker Changan Auto is in talks with its partner Ford Motor to produce a mid-sized Ford car model at their joint venture's new plant in Nanjing using Ford technology but carrying a Changan brand, Reuters reported on Friday, citing two sources.

Changan Auto, who is seeking to become the third largest Chinese automaker, lags behind in own-brand sedan models and has been making Focus, Mondeo, Fiesta and other Ford models in a three-way tie-up with the U.S. automaker and Mazda Motor at their JV plant in southwesten Chinese city of Chongqing.

Ford CEO Alan Mulally recently met up with Changan Chairman Xu Liuping to discuss ways to bring their cooperation to a new level. The re-badging of a mid-sized sedan from Ford was the top item on the agenda, to be built at Changan Ford's Nanjing plant in eastern China.

A "mid-sized car" in China refers to the Camry/Accord class, so it could be the Ford Mondeo, said ASEAN Automotive News. Changan has no its own model yet in this growing segment. The Ford-turned-Changan sedan will be lower priced than its Ford original.

As a relative newcomer to China, now the world's largest auto market, Ford is hoping that its partnership with Changan will blossom. The re-badging deal would mark a breakthrough in their partnership and pave the way for more mutual benefits.