Ford and its Chinese joint ventures sold 90,775 vehicles in China in July, up 25 percent from a year earlier, far outpacing industry growth of 6.7 percent for the same month in the world’s biggest auto market. That follows a 17 percent year-on-year rise in June and a 32 percent increase in May.
Ford’s sales in the first seven months of the year totaled 640,031 vehicles, up 33 percent from the same period a year earlier, the U.S. carmaker said on Friday. Ford makes vehicles in China in partnership with Changan Auto and with Jiangling Motors.
Ford’s passenger car joint venture Changan Ford (CAF) sold 64,130 vehicles in July, up 19 percent compared to 53,947 sold in July 2013
Ford’s China sales have been bolstered by strong growth in SUV models, the Ford Kuga and Ford EcoSport, whose sales have risen 63 percent and 83 percent, respectively, so far this year.
Ford Kuga July sales rose 10 percent with 10,450 vehicles sold while Ford EcoSport July sales increased 22 percent with 7,302 vehicles sold. The Ford Mondeo nameplate sold 10,154 vehicles in July, an 807 percent increase from July 2013.
Ford plans to launch its premium brand Lincoln in China later this year, with plans to open eight Lincoln retail outlets in seven Chinese cities starting in October.
Ford’s commercial vehicle investment in China, Jiangling Motors Corporation (JMC), sold 22,031 vehicles in July, up 33 percent from July 2013.
