Ford Motor Company (China) Limited
Ford Motor Company (China) Limited is a major Chinese automotive manufacturer and marketer, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of the American Ford Motor Company. Established in 2001 and headquartered in Pudong, Shanghai, Ford China is the largest American owned automaker in the Chinese market.
Ford China operates across five plants located in Nanjing, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Chongzhou, and Shanghai. It has about 8,000 employees dedicated to producing and marketing a variety of vehicles including cars, SUVs, mini-trucks, and light commercial vehicles.
Fords entry into the Chinese market began in 1992 when the first Ford vehicle was shipped to China from Europe. Over the next decade, Ford China expanded rapidly, becoming the companys largest Asian manufacturing and sales base outside of North America. In 2005, the company celebrated the production of a million vehicles. Today, Ford has over 1100 dealerships across the country, with a presence in 197 cities.
Ford China has taken steps to ensure that its operations are environment-friendly. This has resulted in its various plants meeting the Chinese governments stringent emissions standards. In 2012, Ford China was named among the ‘Greenest Companies in China’ by Greenpeace. Further, Ford China is a party to the United Nations Global Compact, a strategic policy initiative that encourages businesses around the world to adopt responsible practices such as protecting the environment, supporting human rights and upholding labor standards.
With an aggressive growth strategy on its minds, Ford China is aiming for a 5 percent market share by 2016. To make this dream a reality, the company is investing heavily in product development, marketing, and customer service. Additionally, it is seeking to introduce at least one new model every year while enhancing its current lineup in order to meet the Chinese customers needs. It is also entering into joint endeavors with various parties in order to gain access to the latest technologies.
Ford has always been known as one of the best automakers in the world, and its foray into the Chinese market has been highly successful. With a broad presence and further plans for aggressive growth, Ford China is set to be one of the leaders in the Chinese automotive industry.
