Ford And VW Report Robust Sales

Both Ford Motor Co. and Volkswagen Group have28.7 percent from the previous year's record.
reported robust sales in China for the first threeFAW Volkswagen's most recent lineup includes
quarters of 2006. Ford, United States' secondAudi A6 and A4, Bora, Caddy, Jetta, Golf, and
largest automaker, boasts its combined sales ofSagitar. According to Winfried Vahland, executive
its brands Ford, Lincoln, Volvo, Jaguar and Landvice-president of Volkswagen Group and president
Rover. It was divulged by said automaker thatof Volkswagen Group China, "We can state
the figures rocketed by 105.5 percent to 114,685already today that we will achieve all three
units starting from January to September thistargets of our Olympic Restructuring Program for
year. The company also said China sales underthis year (in China). The three targets are a
the Ford brand, for passenger cars andstabilized market share, better sales than in 2005
commercial vehicles locally produced and imported,and positive financial results." Ford, the
soared by 111 percent to 106,237 units in the firstDetroit-based automaker, is also engaged in two
three quarters of this year. Ford's latest lineupjoint ventures with Chang'an Motor Corp and
includes Edge, Shelby GT500 and Mustang. OtherJiangling Motor Corp, the former is one of China's
Ford brands will continue its lineup which featurestop vehicle producers and the latter is a growing
modifications and several upgrades. Lincoln, forcompany. Chang'an Ford produces Fiesta, Focus,
one, boasts its modifications to Lincoln Town CarMondeo and Volvo S40. Ford is also building a new
parts to come up with a more interesting newplant in the East of China. This plant will also be
vehicle. Cheng Meiwei, vice-president of Ford andutilized by its Japanese affiliates that include Mazda
chairman of Ford Motor China said, "Ford MotorMotor, and Chang'an. Next year, said plant will
Company is poised for an exciting full-yearbegin to assembly Ford and Mazda vehicles. Major
performance in 2006 in China and is ready toautomakers like General Motors, Toyota, Honda,
continue its rapid growth in 2007." On one hand,PSA Peugeot Citroen and Hyundai have not yet
Volkswagen has announced its perfected sale ofdivulged their China sales report for the first three
524,558 cars in China during the first threequarters of this year.
quarters. The figure has significantly increased by