by CHEN Xiaotong
Ford Motor is restructuring its China operations with a new wholly-owned subsidiary to oversee sales and service of its passenger cars and pickups.
The new company, Ford Sales and Service (Shanghai) Co., will begin operations on Oct. 1, 2025, Ford said on Sept. 23. It will unify functions previously split between Ford's ventures with Changan Automobile and Jiangling Motors, according to the National Business Daily.
CHEN Xiaobo, a former Changan Ford and Renault China executive, has been appointed president, reporting to WU Shengbo, president and CEO of Ford China and Ford's International Markets Group.
Jiangling Motors said the new subsidiary will take over distribution of the Ford-branded passenger cars and pickups it builds for the Chinese market. It added that Jiangling and Ford plan to inject capital into their Shanghai joint venture to settle liabilities and support a smooth transition.
Ford China said the overhaul is intended to create a leaner, more sustainable network and improve coordination across channels. Under the new structure, according to the National Business Daily report, Changan Ford and Jiangling Ford dealerships will sell each other's models as well as imported pickups. The changes come after speculation about a merger of Ford's two Chinese ventures, which both companies have denied.
Share of foreign automakers car sales in China has fallen to 31% in the first seven months of this year, versus 62% in 2020, as local EV makers such as BYD and Geely expand rapidly, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).
