Ford China posts 21 percent sales increase in 2012

Ford China set an annual sales record in 2012, selling 626,616 vehicles, up 21 percent from 519,390 units in 2011.

For the fourth month in a row, Ford also set a monthly sales record, with 70,510 wholesale vehicles sold in December, up 43 percent from 49,238 a year earlier.

“The enthusiasm for Ford cars validates our aggressive plan to introduce 15 new vehicles, double production capacity, and double our China dealership network-all by 2015,” said John Lawler, chairman and CEO of Ford Motor China.

Ford also set records for annual passenger car sales, which include the imported Ford Edge. 2012 passenger car sales are up 31 percent with 426,608 cars sold compared from 324,802 in 2011. December passenger car sales reached 50,569 cars, an increase of 59 percent compared from 31,729 in December 2011.

Ford’s passenger car joint venture Changan Ford Automobile (CAF) broke records as well this year, with 418,500 Ford-brand cars sold in 2012, a significant increase of 31 percent from 320,658 in 2011. CAF also had a record December, selling 49,212 Ford-brand passenger cars, up 60 percent from 30,788 in 2011.

The Focus, which was repeatedly named the best-selling nameplate in China in 2012, continued to drive great sales performance in December, with 36,868 cars sold. For the year, Focus sales totaled 296,360 units.