Ford to start building third plant in China this week
Ford Motor Co. will begin construction of a third plant in China later this week, sources say. A ground breaking ceremony for the new plant will be held Friday this week in the southwest China city of Chongqing, according to a source close to the company.
Chinese media have reported Ford's third plant will have an annual production capacity of 100,000 units initially, which can be raised to 300,000 units in future.
Ford China declined to comment when contacted by Automotive News China.
Ford currently operates in China through Chongqing Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Co., a 50-35-15 joint venture between Ford, Chinese automaker Chongqing Changan Automobile Co. and Mazda Motor Co.
In addition to an existing plant in Chongqing, Changan Ford Mazda has a plant in the east China city of Nanjing.
Changan Ford Mazda now builds the Ford Focus, Mondeo, S-Max and Mazda 3 in its Chongqing plant, and the Mazda 2 and the new Fiesta in its Nanjing plant.
Annual capacity of the Chongqing plant is 250,000 units while that of the Nanjing plant is 410,000 units.
