Ford's Chinese sales fall 12% in March

Gasgoo.com (Shanghai April 11) - Ford Motor China announced that its sales in the country totaled 49,400 vehicles over the last month, Caijing reported today. Compared with last March's sales result of 55,300 units, the manufacturer's performance this year fell short by 12 percent. Ford sold a total of 120,000 vehicles in China in the first quarter of the year, 13.6 percent less than first quarter of 2011.

Looking at results from its two Chinese joint ventures, Changan Ford Mazda was responsible for selling a total of 27,400 Fords during the month, decreasing 17 percent from last March, while Jiangling Motors sold a total of 22,000 commercial vehicles, increasingly slightly from the previous year.

According to Ford Motor China Chairman and CEO David L. Schoch, the manufacturer is currently undergoing a phase of rapid development, adding that the new Chongqing factory has already begun production of the new Focus. Changan Ford Mazda recently announced its plan to invest $600 million in expanding the site, raising its production capability to 350,000 vehicles.

Ford currently has a total production volume of 950,000 vehicles in China. The manufacturer is investing a total of $4.1 billion in the country.