Changan Ford Mazda Explained

Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Co., Ltd.
Native Name:长安福特马自达汽车有限公司
Native Name Lang:zh
Type:joint venture
Successor:Changan Ford Automobile Co., Ltd.
Changan Mazda Automobile Co., Ltd.
Defunct:December 2012
Fate:Separated into Changan Ford and Changan Mazda
Area Served:China
Industry:Automotive
Products:Automobiles
Foundation:April 2001 (Chongqing)
Location City:Chongqing
Location Country:China
T:長安福特馬自達
S:长安福特马自达
P:Cháng'ān Fútè Mǎzìdá
W:Ch'ang2-an1 Fu2-t'e4 Ma3-tzu4-ta2
L:Chang'an Ford Mazda

Changan Ford Mazda (officially Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Co., Ltd.) was an automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Chongqing, China and a joint venture between Changan Automobile, Ford Motor Company and Mazda. Its principal activity was the manufacture and sale of Ford and Mazda branded passenger cars in China.

In December 2012 the activities of Changan Ford Mazda were restructured and separated into two new joint ventures: Changan Ford Automobile Co., Ltd. and Changan Mazda Automobile Co., Ltd. Changan Ford was established as a 50:50 joint venture between Changan and Ford incorporated in Chongqing and assumed all of Changan Ford Mazda's Ford-related business. Changan Mazda was established as a 50:50 joint venture between Changan and Mazda incorporated in Nanjing and assumed all of Changan Ford Mazda's Mazda-related business.

History

2001 to 2010

Changan Ford Automobile Co., Ltd. was established in April 2001 as a 50-50 joint venture between Ford Motor Company and Changan Automobile.[1] Operations began in 2003, with 20,000 Ford Fiestas produced in that year. Production was initially based upon knockdown kits, partially assembled vehicles imported to meet local assembly regulations.

Capacity was increased to 50,000 vehicles in 2004 and to 150,000 soon after, and the Ford Mondeo and Ford Escape-based Maverick SUV also entered production.

In April 2005 it was announced that Changan Ford's Chongqing factory would begin assembling the Ford Focus model, and that Ford, Changan Automotive Group and Mazda would establish a new joint venture company, Chang'an Ford Mazda Engine, to build a new engine plant in Nanjing capable of producing 350,000 units annually.[2]

In March 2006 it was announced that Changan Ford would begin producing Volvo automobiles later in that year, with the S40 saloon the first vehicle to enter production.[3] [4] In February 2009, production of the China-only S80L commenced.[5] The joint-venture between Volvo and Changan Ford ended in late 2015.[5]

Mazda acquired a 15% stake in Changan Ford from Ford on 4 April 2006, with the company being renamed Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Co., Ltd.[6]

Changan Ford Mazda opened a new assembly plant in Nanjing in September 2007, constructed at a cost of US$510 million and with an initial production capacity of 160,000 vehicles per annum.[7] [8]

In September 2009, Changan Ford Mazda announced plans to invest US$490 million in the construction of a second assembly plant in Chongqing, with a planned annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles.[9] [10] The plant opened in February 2012.[11] [12]

2010 to 2019

In early April 2012, Changan Ford Mazda announced plans to invest US$600 million in the expansion of its manufacturing facilities in Chongqing, increasing its total unit capacity by 350,000 vehicles to 950,000.[13] [14] Later in the same month, Changan Ford Mazda announced plans to invest US$760 million in the construction of a new vehicle assembly plant in Hangzhou with an initial capacity of 250,000 units.[15] The plant is planned for completion in 2015.[16]

In late 2012, China approved the division of Changan Ford Mazda into two new joint ventures, Changan Ford Automobile Co., Ltd. and Changan Mazda Automobile Co., Ltd.[17]

In January 2019, Mazda acquired Ford's stake in Changan Ford Mazda Engine Co., Ltd. & renamed the company Changan Mazda Engine Co., Ltd., which is now owned 50% by Mazda & 50% by Changan.

Sales

Calendar yearTotal sales
2004
200561,013[18]
2006126,790[19]
2007217,100[20]
2008204,334[21]
2009315,791[22]
2010403,283[23]
2011

Notes and References

  1. Web site: JV Cooperation. 26 February 2012. Changan Automobile Group. dead. https://archive.today/20120726194529/http://global.changan.com.cn/About/cooper.shtml. 26 July 2012.
  2. News: Ford comes late to China's party. 26 February 2012. USA Today. 20 April 2005.
  3. News: Volvo to start Chinese production. 3 March 2012. BBC News. 20 March 2006.
  4. News: Ford's Volvo Unit to Start Making S40 Sedans in China . 3 March 2012. Bloomberg. 20 March 2006.
  5. Web site: Glenn Brooks . Volvo Cars and Changan dissolve China JV . just-auto.com . 2016-01-18 . 2017-07-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170701155047/http://www.just-auto.com/news/volvo-cars-and-changan-dissolve-china-jv_id166437.aspx . 2017-07-01 . live .
  6. News: Mazda takes 15% stake in Changan Ford from Ford. https://archive.today/20120716204805/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/4/4/apworld/20060404152113&sec=apworld. dead. 16 July 2012. 26 February 2012. Malaysia Star. 4 April 2006.
  7. News: Ford starts operation at new $510 mln China plant. 26 February 2012. Reuters. 24 September 2007.
  8. News: Ford opens China factory. 26 February 2012. Toronto Star. 24 September 2007.
  9. News: Amid weakness at home, Ford, Toyota turn to China. 26 February 2012. USA Today. 25 September 2009.
  10. News: Ford Begins Work on 3rd China Car Plant in Asia Push . 26 February 2012. Blooomberg. 25 September 2009.
  11. News: Ford plays catch-up in China's growing auto market. 26 February 2012. Los Angeles Times. 25 February 2012.
  12. News: Ford opens 4th Chinese assembly plant. 26 February 2012. Detroit Free Press. 25 February 2012.
  13. News: Ford to invest $600M to branch out in China. 6 April 2012. Detroit Free Press. 5 April 2012.
  14. News: Ford to expand Chinese factories again. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030501/http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-04/D9TURCBO0.htm. dead. 4 March 2016. 6 April 2012. Bloomberg Businessweek. 5 April 2012.
  15. News: Ford to Build Plant in China to Bolster Global Sales. 19 April 2012. The New York Times. 19 April 2012.
  16. News: Ford invests $760 million for new China plant, more capacity. 19 April 2012. Reuters. 19 April 2012. 20 April 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120420161716/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/19/us-ford-china-idUSBRE83I0PQ20120419. live.
  17. News: Restructure of Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Approved. 6 February 2013. Mazda. 30 November 2012.
  18. News: Ford: Sales in China Rose 46 Percent. 28 February 2012. CBS News. 11 February 2006.
  19. News: Ford's China jv sees big jump in 2007 sales. 28 February 2012. Reuters. 19 April 2007. 10 September 2012. https://archive.today/20120910002326/http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/04/19/idUSSP26673320070419. live.
  20. News: Focus drives Ford sales in China. 28 February 2012. Toronto Star. 9 January 2008.
  21. News: Ford's China car JV sales down 6 pct in 2008. 28 February 2012. Reuters. 12 January 2009. 10 September 2012. https://archive.today/20120910162617/http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/01/12/ford-china-sales-update-idUSSHA6948720090112. live.
  22. News: Ford to outpace China market in 2010; sales strong in '09. 28 February 2012. Reuters. 7 January 2010. 6 April 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110406160213/http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/01/07/retire-us-ford-chinasales-idUSTRE6060XN20100107. live.
  23. News: Ford: China sales hit record in 2010. 28 February 2012. Business Report. 7 January 2011.