Ford opens gearbox plant in Chongqing
Changan Ford Automobile Co. opened a plant in Chongqing last week to produce six-speed automatic transmissions for Ford's passenger car lineup.
The $350 million (2.2 billion yuan) factory, Ford's first transmission plant in China, will build up to 400,000 gearboxes annually.
The transmissions will be used in the Ford Focus, Kuga and Mondeo, Changan Ford's main products. The gearbox also will be used in the Ford Escort, which will be produced in China.
Changan Ford, a 50-50 joint venture between Ford and Changan Automobile Co., operates two vehicle assembly plants and an engine plant in Chongqing.
The partnership is building two additional assembly plants in Chongqing and the east China city of Hangzhou.
In the first five months of this year, Changan Ford sold 330,771 vehicles, up 43 percent from the same period last year.
The transmissions will be used in the Ford Focus, Kuga and Mondeo, Changan Ford's main products. The gearbox also will be used in the Ford Escort, which will be produced in China.
Changan Ford, a 50-50 joint venture between Ford and Changan Automobile Co., operates two vehicle assembly plants and an engine plant in Chongqing.
The partnership is building two additional assembly plants in Chongqing and the east China city of Hangzhou.
In the first five months of this year, Changan Ford sold 330,771 vehicles, up 43 percent from the same period last year.
