Ford Motor plans to launch over 30 new models in China for the next three years of which more than a third will be electric vehicles, the U.S. automaker stated on Wednesday, as it seeks to reverse decreasing sales in the world’s top auto market.
Ford had stated earlier it would introduce 50 new or significantly redesigned vehicles in China beginning from 2018 and through 2025, and Wednesday’s announcement gives more clarity on the timeline.
Its China operations chief Anning Chen stated the automaker is committing itself to enhancing its relationships with Chinese joint-venture partners and localizing its management teams by employing and promoting more Chinese nationals and international talent with Chinese expertise, among other initiatives.
The new strategies are intended to “allow us to gain the momentum to break through” in the marketplace, Chen informed a small group of reporters.
Ford has been having a hard time to revive sales in China, the second biggest market globally for the Dearborn, Michigan automaker, following its business began dropping in late 2017. Sales dropped 37 percent in 2018, after a 6 percent reduction in 2017.
Ford has stated its sales crisis stemmed mainly from a lack of new products. Industry experts further ascribe the company’s China trouble to the Sino-U.S. trade war and its rocky relationship with regional partners Changan Automobile Group and Jiangling Motors Group.
