Ford Breaks Ground on New China Plant

By Logan Utsman on Monday, August 27th, 2012

The third Chinese plant under the watchful eye of Ford Motor Company and Changan Ford Mazda Automobile (CFMA) has taken a major step towards fully operational. With the foremost Ford people on hand, ground was officially broken and soon enough, assembly of the facility will commence. Located in Chongqing, China, the production plant is scheduled to start-up in 2014.

“To meet continued demand in China, we are doubling the number of assembly plants and doubling our production capacity,” said Ford CEO Alan Mulally. The Blue Oval boss was joined by Chongqing Mayor Huang Qifan; Joe Hinrichs, president of Ford Asia Pacific and Africa; Dave Schoch, chairman and CEO of Ford Motor China; Changan Automotive Chairman Xiu Liuping; and CFMA President Marin Burela. At the ceremony, Mulally revealed that joining the new plant will be a whole new expansion in reasearch and development inside China. CFMA signed a letter of intent with the Municipality of Chongqing so that common manufacturing processes and new technologies can be further analysed.

By 2015, Ford hopes to have 15 new vehicles introduced to China as well as 20 new drivetrains. The Chongqing 3 plant will be partly responsible for this achievement. Its existence was made possible by a $600 million investment and when its complete, the plant will have the ability to produce up to seven different models.

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