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Ford Reorganizes China Operations to Strengthen Management of Growth

23 January 1998

Ford Reorganizes China Operations to Strengthen Management of Growth

    DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 23 -- Ford Motor Company is
reorganizing its Ford China Operations with the appointment of Mei Wei Cheng
as president and chief operating officer of Ford Motor (China) Ltd., to
further strengthen management of its growth opportunities within the People's
Republic of China.
    Following the recent announcement of a new engine venture with Yuejin
Motor Group Corporation (YMGC) and the start of production of the China
Transit with Jiangling Motor Company (JMC), Ford now has seven business
partnerships in China, said Vaughn Koshkarian, who becomes chairman and chief
executive officer of Ford Motor (China) Ltd.
    Koshkarian expects the new organization and Cheng joining the team to
facilitate a better balance between overseeing on-going ventures and the
development of new business.
    Cheng joins Ford from General Electric Corporation where he was vice
president and regional executive for GE appliance in Hong Kong.  He has
extensive work experience in the U.S. and previously served in Beijing as
chairman and chief executive officer of GE China, and president of AT&T China.
He will be based in Beijing and will report to Koshkarian.
    "This new structure reinforces our commitment to playing an active and
constructive role in the development of China's auto industry through
efficient investment in the development and manufacture of high quality
products designed to meet the needs of our customers in China," said
Koshkarian.  "It will allow us to focus both on the challenges in our existing
ventures as well as those related to growing our participation and presence in
China."
    To date, Ford Motor (China) Ltd. has partnered in five component joint
ventures, announced an agreement with YMGC to manufacture four cylinder multi-
valve engines, and the intention to increase its 20 percent share of JMC to
30 percent.  On December 2, 1997, Ford and JMC launched production of the
China Transit, the first truly jointly-developed, international standard
Sino-foreign vehicle.

SOURCE  Ford Motor Company