Ford-Mazda may split in China JV by 2012

Shanghai, July 2 (Gasgoo.com) The future of the Changan-Ford-Mazda partnership has been in focus since Ford asked the Chinese government for permission to restructure their joint venture in Chongqing some time ago, and some results finally came out.

"We should get the approval from the government by the end of this year if the procedure goes just as smoothly, and the three-way partnership should split completely before 2012," a source from Changan-Ford-Mazda said.

Moreover, production of the Mazda 2 and 3 is already moved to a factory in Nanjing operated by the trio, and all the future models will be labeled as "Nanjing", Takeshi Araki, vice president of Changan-Mazda Motor's Nanjing facility said at the launch ceremony of the Mazda 3 on June 21.

Some industry observers in China have thus suggested that the facility could become a two-way joint venture between Mazda and Changan.

The partnership between Changan, Ford and Mazda has been successful over the years. However, all three companies are "constantly assessing new opportunities" to improve its products and meet growing customer demands in China, Ford said in May.