Ford to sell Canadian-built Edge in China

Ford will try to help satisfy China's thirst for S.U.V.'s by exporting the Canadian-built Edge to that rapidly expanding market. The Edge was first shown in Asia at the Beijing Auto Show in April, and it's appearing this week at the Chengdu Auto Show.

Nigel Harris, a vice president for Ford Motor (China) said, "Ford is bringing a little more spice to Sichuan this year by showing one of the newest, most capable and fuel-efficient S.U.V.'s on the planet here in Chengdu."

The 2011 Ford Edge, which is a refreshed and refined version of the previous model, went on sale in the United States last month. It is expected to be available in China by December.

In keeping with Ford's global strategy, the Edge sold in China will be very similar to the American version, differing mainly in such items as lamps and indicators that must meet local regulations. Like stateside Edge owners, buyers in China will get the 285 horsepower V6, four-wheel disc brakes, traction/stability control, a host of air bags, and the Sync and MyFord Touch connectivity features.

A Ford spokesman, Todd Nissen, said that the company hoped to sell 4,000 to 5,000 Edge S.U.V.'s annually in China. Pricing has not yet been announced, but the vehicle is likely to be considerably more costly in China than in the United States, due to that country's import duties. Other Ford vehicles that are available in China, including Fiesta, Focus, Mondeo and S-Max, are manufactured in China.

Ford and its partners have been quite successful in China and recently reported August sales of 44,047. That's an increase of 24 percent over August 2009. Year-to-date sales are up 42 percent.

Joe Hinrichs, president of Ford Asia Pacific and Africa, said: "We have big plans for India, China and the region. The growth potential in this part of the world in the next 10 years is astounding. China will remain the largest car market in the world for the foreseeable future, and we estimate India will be the third-largest market in the world in the next 10 years."

While Ford hopes that the Edge is a big winner in China, the automaker is looking elsewhere for sales as well. Mr. Nissen said Ford planned to export the S.U.V. to the Middle East as well as to a few countries in the Caribbean and Central America.