Following Chrysler's Footsteps, Ford Considers Producing Verve in China for Export

SHANGHAI - September 27, 2007:

Ford Motors is considering following Chrysler-Chery's path to produce small cars in China for sale in international markets, a senior Ford official said recently.

"Ford may start to import small cars from its new factory in China provided that these vehicles can meet Ford's quality standards, " Ford president and CEO Alan Mulally said in an interview with the Xin Hua News Agency. "One of the cars will be the Verve unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show."

Alan Mulally, file photo

The president was recently on a China tour to participate in the opening ceremony for its second manufacturing facility in Nanjing this Monday. Mulally also visited its new wholly owned research and engineering center, also located in Nanjing, a project that involves an investment of 220 million yuan ($29.3 million) for the first phase.

Mulally said Ford's one advantage over Chrysler in this case is that Ford has its own manufacturing facilities and R&D center in China, where Chrysler will rely on Chery to undertake production and some basic engineering work.

This past June Chrysler Group officially signed a deal with China's Chery to build small cars to be sold in the United States within the next 24 months

For more information about the burgeoning auto industry in China please visit http://www.gasgoo.com/Autobiz/list/7/China-News.html