Ford Confirms Asian Car Program

07/29/96

Reuters reported that Ford Motor Co. is developing a vehicle for Asian markets that will cost thousands of dollars less than the automaker's current vehicles. Ford Executive Vice President Wayne Booker said the company has not decided whether the vehicle should be a small passenger car or a small commercial delivery-type vehicle.

The Detroit News reported that Ford's goal was to produce for the rapidly growing middle class in Asia, and reported that the vehicle's price tag would only read $3,000.

Other automakers are also trying to build and mass-market low-cost vehicles for Asian markets like China and Vietnam. Chrysler officials have acknowledged that they have a program known as the "Basic Transportation Vehicle," which could form the basis of a new small car production proposal for China.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel