Ford China establishes wholly-owned sales and service subsidiary to oversee marketing, sales, and after-sales services for Ford-branded passenger vehicles and pickup trucks in China
On September 23, Ford China announced the establishment of a wholly-owned subsidiary in Shanghai—Ford Motor Sales and Service (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
The new entity will oversee marketing, sales, and after-sales services for Ford-branded passenger vehicles and pickup trucks in China. Operations will officially commence on October 1, 2025.
At the same time, Ford China confirmed that Chen Xiaobo will serve as President of the new company, reporting directly to Sam Wu, President and CEO of both Ford China and Ford’s International Markets Group.
Chen brings extensive experience from senior roles within Ford and its joint ventures. He previously served as Vice President of New Energy Vehicles and General Manager of the Marketing Center at Changan Ford, as well as Executive Vice President of the National Sales and Service Organization. Earlier in his career, he held management positions at Changan Automobile and Renault China.
The restructuring of Ford’s distribution channels has also prompted changes at its Chinese joint ventures. Jiangling Motors announced the same day that it will entrust the newly formed Ford Sales and Service Company with the nationwide distribution of Ford passenger cars and pickup trucks produced by Jiangling.
In addition, Jiangling Motors and Ford Motor Company plan to jointly increase the capital of Jiangling Ford Automobile Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. Jiangling will contribute approximately RMB 1.264 billion ($177 million) through debt-to-equity conversion, while Ford will inject about RMB 1.214 billion ($171 million) in cash to settle the company’s liabilities. Upon completion, Jiangling will maintain its 51% stake, with its shareholding ratio unchanged.
For years, Ford has operated two joint ventures in China, each with distinct market positioning. Changan Ford has focused on sedans and mainstream passenger cars, supported by a network of roughly 270 outlets. Jiangling Ford has concentrated on rugged SUVs and pickup trucks, with about 110 outlets.
The new arrangement consolidates both joint ventures’ sales operations as well as Ford’s imported vehicle business into the wholly-owned subsidiary, creating a unified national sales network of more than 300 dealerships.
Going forward, Jiangling Ford’s pickup models will also be distributed through Changan Ford’s sales channels.
Despite steady sales growth, Ford continues to trail leading joint venture brands in China. Public data shows that Jiangling Ford passenger car sales climbed from 38,000 units in 2022 to nearly 50,000 units in 2024, but still lag behind top-tier competitors.
“The establishment of a wholly-owned sales and service company marks a bold step for the Ford brand in China, as it seeks to strengthen competitiveness in marketing, sales, and after-sales services,” said Sam Wu. “By unifying our sales network, Ford aims to enhance brand synergy and reinforce channel competitiveness.”
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