China a bright spot of Ford's global sales growth

China was one of Ford's bright spots of its global sales in the past year and the US auto maker eyes further improving its footprint in the world's fastest-growing economy, Ellen Hughes-Cromwick, Ford's chief economist told Xinhua on Sunday.

"China is such a wonderful country with so many opportunities. Economic growth in China is amazing and Ford feels honored to be part of that by providing transportation products, which were demanded by Chinese people," she said at an exclusive interview with Xinhua in Detroit prior to the 2011 North American International Auto Show.

The annual international auto industry gala was scheduled to kick off in Detroit, the United States, on Monday.

In 2010, Ford's China sales surged 40 percent on an annual basis to 582,467 units, an engine for its strong sales rally last year.

She noted that Ford benefited from its full family of cars, utilities and trucks that are well received in the market last year.

Hughes-Cromwick predicted that a record number of 75 to 85 million vehicles would be sold globally in 2011, and around 12.5 to 13.5 million car sales to be registered this year in the United States alone, when addressing industry executives, experts and journalists Sunday at the annual conference of the US Society of Automotive Analysts.

The US auto manufacturer predicted that in 2010, global auto sales would reach 72 million, which was 11 percent higher than the 65 million sales recorded in 2009.

"Global economy might grow by 3 to 4 percent in 2011, with economic fundamentals looking favorable in most markets for 2011. Incomes in many emerging markets would reach levels which sustain faster pace of consumer spending on durable goods like cars," she said, adding that there was still huge room for the auto market growth in China.

"We are so focused on improving over time, better quality, and better understanding what the customers want," she added.

The auto maker said last month that it plans to construct a new plant in Nanchang City, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province, this year and the plant will begin operations in 2013.