Ford breaks ground on new plant in Chongqing; will make 250,000 vehicles per year starting 2014

Ford Motor Co. is building a sixth plant in China as part of an effort to increase its sales in the world’s largest auto market. Ground breaking took place on a new US$600 million assembly plant in the southwestern city of Chongqing, which will have the capacity to make 250,000 vehicles per year when it is finished in late 2014.
The plant is Ford’s third such facility in Chongqing, including one that began producing the Ford Focus in February. Ford plans to double its production capacity in China to 1.2 million vehicles by 2015; this would represent the company’s most rapid expansion in 50 years, with the new plant equipped to make seven different models. Ford is set to introduce 15 new vehicles here by 2015, including the EcoSport and Kuga small SUVs, to be made at the new Focus plant in the Chongqing complex.
Ford currently controls about 3% of the Chinese market and sells only Ford-branded cars. GM sells 30 different vehicles in China under six brands.
China overtook the U.S. as the world’s largest auto market last year, with sales up 32% to more than 18 million vehicles. (August 29, 2012)