Overview

Changan Ford (长安福特) is the principal passenger-vehicle manufacturing joint venture through which Ford Motor Company serves the Chinese market. It is a partnership between Ford Motor Company of Dearborn, Michigan, and Changan Automobile, one of China's large state-linked automakers based in Chongqing. The venture manufactures and markets Ford-branded passenger cars, SUVs, MPVs and, increasingly, new-energy vehicles for Chinese consumers, and it sits alongside Ford's other China operations — including Ford Motor (China) Co., Ltd., Jiangling Motors (JMC) for commercial vehicles, Ford's engineering research center in Nanjing, and Ford Financial — within the wider Ford China organization. Ford's corporate presence in China dates to 1995, when Ford Motor (China) Co., Ltd. was established with headquarters in Shanghai. The Changan Ford joint venture was formed in the early 2000s to localize passenger-car production, and it became the backbone of Ford's China passenger-car business, producing nameplates such as the Mondeo mid-size sedan, the Edge and later Edge L SUVs, the Kuga/Escape, the Explorer, the Everest, the Territory, and the Mustang Mach-E and other electrified models. Over the years the venture built a nationwide dealer and service network and a substantial local manufacturing footprint centered on Chongqing and Hangzhou. Ford China describes its brand spirit in China as "放天性、去野行" (roughly, "release your nature, go wild/off-road"), reflecting a product line that spans road performance and hardcore off-road capability. The current Ford China lineup promoted on the official website includes the Ford Bronco (烈马), the F-150 Raptor (F-150 猛禽), the Ranger (游骑侠), the Explorer (探险者), the Edge L (锐界L), the Kuga (锐际), the Equator (领裕) and Equator Sport (领睿), the Mondeo (蒙迪欧), the imported Mustang, the Tourneo (途睿欧) and the Transit (全顺) — with plug-in hybrid versions of several models. Changan Ford is the entity behind much of this passenger-car manufacturing and distribution. Like other legacy joint ventures in China, Changan Ford has faced intensifying competition from domestic EV makers and changing consumer preferences, prompting Ford to restructure its China strategy, sharpen its brand positioning around performance and off-road identity, and expand exports and new-energy offerings. Ford has also pursued broader international partnerships, such as the 2026 agreement with Geely to form a joint venture sharing the Valencia plant in Spain for European-market vehicles, illustrating how Ford's global manufacturing and partnership strategy intersects with its China business.

History

Ford Motor Company's engagement with China began in earnest in 1995, when Ford Motor (China) Co., Ltd. was established with headquarters in Shanghai, providing Ford and Lincoln products and financial services to Chinese customers. To localize passenger-car manufacturing, Ford formed a joint venture with Changan Automobile, a major Chinese automaker headquartered in Chongqing. Changan Ford became the principal vehicle through which Ford-branded passenger cars were built and sold in China, complementing Ford's commercial-vehicle partnership with Jiangling Motors (JMC) and its engineering research center in Nanjing. Through the 2000s and 2010s, Changan Ford expanded its product line and manufacturing footprint, producing mainstream Ford nameplates adapted to Chinese tastes — the Mondeo mid-size sedan, the Focus compact, the Kuga/Escape and Edge SUVs, and later the Edge L, the Explorer, the Equator (领裕) and Equator Sport (领睿), and the Territory. The venture built a nationwide dealer network and became a significant contributor to Ford's global sales. Ford China's own timeline notes key corporate milestones that shaped the venture's context: Ford's founding by Henry Ford in 1903, the Model T in 1908, the moving assembly line in 1913, the acquisition of Lincoln in 1922, the company's public listing in 1956, the founding of Ford Motor Credit in 1959, the launch of the first Mustang in 1964, and the Le Mans victory of the Ford GT in 1966. More recent milestones include Bill Ford becoming chairman in 2001, Alan Mulally's appointment as president and CEO in 2006 with the "One Ford" strategy, the creation of Ford Smart Mobility in 2016, Jim Hackett's appointment in 2017, and the 2018 upgrade of Ford China into an independently operated business unit reporting directly to global headquarters, with Anning Chen appointed president and CEO of Ford Motor (China) Co., Ltd. In October 2020, Jim Farley was appointed president and CEO of Ford Motor Company. In March 2023, Wu Shengbo (吴胜波) formally took over as president and CEO of Ford China, reporting to Farley, and in February 2025 he additionally took charge of Ford's International Markets Group (IMG) while retaining his China responsibilities. Under this leadership, Ford China articulated a brand spirit of "放天性、去野行" and emphasized products spanning road performance and hardcore off-road capability, including the Bronco (烈马), F-150 Raptor (F-150 猛禽), Ranger (游骑侠), Explorer (探险者), Edge L (锐界L), Kuga (锐际), Equator (领裕), Equator Sport (领睿), Mondeo (蒙迪欧), imported Mustang, Tourneo (途睿欧) and Transit (全顺), with plug-in hybrid variants of several models. Ford's China business, including Changan Ford, has confronted a rapidly shifting market in which domestic new-energy vehicle makers gained share and price competition intensified. Ford responded by restructuring its China operations, sharpening its brand around performance and off-road identity, expanding electrified offerings, and pursuing exports. Ford also deepened international partnerships: in July 2026, Ford and Geely agreed to form a joint venture in Valencia, Spain, sharing the plant's capacity to build Ford- and Geely-branded multi-energy vehicles for Europe, with the venture expected to begin operations in the first half of 2027 and the first new model due in 2028. This global partnership strategy, alongside Ford's three customer-centered business units — Ford Blue for iconic internal-combustion and hybrid vehicles, Ford Model e for breakthrough electric vehicles and embedded software, and Ford Pro for commercial customers — frames the context in which Changan Ford continues to manufacture and market Ford vehicles for China.

2026
Ford and Geely agreed to form a joint venture in Valencia, Spain, sharing plant capacity for European-market multi-energy vehicles.
2025
Wu Shengbo additionally took charge of Ford's International Markets Group (IMG) while retaining his China responsibilities.
2023
Wu Shengbo (吴胜波) formally took over as president and CEO of Ford China.
2018
Ford China upgraded into an independently operated business unit reporting directly to global headquarters; Anning Chen appointed president and CEO of Ford Motor (China) Co., Ltd.
2001
Changan Ford joint venture formed between Ford Motor Company and Changan Automobile to localize passenger-car production in China.
1995
Ford Motor (China) Co., Ltd. established with headquarters in Shanghai.

Products and positioning

Targeting China's mid-to-high-end automotive market, offering Ford-branded joint venture models.

Ford Mondeo (蒙迪欧)
Mid-size sedan offered in China, including a sport version and an EcoBoost hybrid variant.
Ford Edge L (锐界L)
Seven-seat SUV offered with EcoBoost hybrid and gasoline powertrains.
Ford Explorer (探险者)
Large SUV positioned as a long-distance flagship, with 5/6/7-seat configurations.
Ford Bronco (烈马)
Off-road SUV with EcoBoost 2.3T engine, including special editions.
Ford Kuga (锐际)
Compact SUV in the Ford China lineup.
Ford Equator (领裕) and Equator Sport (领睿)
SUVs offered with plug-in hybrid variants in China.
Ford Mustang (imported)
Iconic performance car offered in China as an import, including hardtop and convertible versions.
Ford F-150 Raptor (F-150 猛禽)
High-performance pickup truck with EcoBoost 3.5L engine.
Ford Ranger (游骑侠)
Mid-size pickup truck in the Ford China lineup.
Ford Tourneo (途睿欧) and Transit (全顺)
MPV and commercial van models, with the Transit City produced at JMC's Xiaolan plant for export.

Controversies

2021
Skirt-Lifting Ad Criticized as Vulgar and Promoting High-Speed Driving; Company Deleted It and Apologized
In May 2021, Changan Ford's official account released a video that used content such as lifting a girl's skirt and high-speed testing for promotion, sparking controversy over vulgarity and driving safety. The company deleted the content and apologized, promising to regulate its advertising.
Source
2019
Fined 162.8 Million Yuan for Antitrust Violation over Minimum Resale Price Maintenance
In 2019, the State Administration for Market Regulation found that Changan Ford had restricted competition among dealers in Chongqing by setting minimum resale prices, and imposed a fine of 4% of its relevant sales from the previous year, totaling 162.8 million yuan. The brand stated it would rectify the issue. The case was limited to the regions, period, and agreements specified in the penalty.
Source
2019
Changan Ford recalls 547,876 vehicles over airbag risk
In November 2019, Changan Ford initiated a recall of 547,876 Mondeo and Edge vehicles. The recall was prompted by defective airbag inflators that may rupture and send shrapnel into the vehicle. According to the company, the defective airbags would be replaced free of charge. The recall covers the specified models and reflects a safety-related corrective action announced by the automaker.
Source
2019
Changan Ford recalls Mondeo and Edge vehicles in China
Changan Ford announced a recall in China of specified New Mondeo and Edge vehicles produced during the periods stated in the notice. Their driver-side frontal airbags used Takata inflators that could rupture when deployed and send fragments into the vehicle cabin. The company said it would replace the affected airbag modules free of charge.
Source

Recent events

Unconfirmed
Reported2021.06.01
JD and Changan Ford sign upgraded strategic cooperation agreement[11]京东与长安福特签署战略合作升级协议finance.sina.com.cn
JD and Changan Ford signed an upgraded strategic cooperation agreement. The report says they intend to combine resources and use JD’s automotive services ecosystem to expand Changan Ford’s service scenarios.
Unconfirmed
Changan Ford appoints He Xiaoqing as president[12]长安福特任命何晓庆为总裁nbd.com.cn
Ford China announced that He Xiaoqing was appointed president of Changan Ford and would be responsible for its operations.
Unconfirmed
Changan Ford previews locally produced Explorer planned for China launch[13]长安福特预告国产全新探险者计划在中国上市k.sina.com.cn
The article reports that Changan Ford brought a new-generation Explorer to Chinese consumers and says the new vehicle was expected to officially launch in mid-June. The launch is presented as planned, not completed.
Unconfirmed
Changan Ford launches Edge Smart Edition[14]长安福特推出锐际聪慧版auto.cnfol.com
Changan Ford announced the launch of the Edge Smart Edition, a new vehicle variant with upgrades to connected-car features, active safety and the air-conditioning system. It is available in two versions priced at RMB 179,800 and RMB 194,800.
2020.04.08
Changan Ford unveils locally produced Explorer[15]长安福特国产探险者首次亮相k.sina.com.cn
The locally produced Ford Explorer made its debut on April 8; the article said it was scheduled to go on sale in early June.
2019.11.08
Changan Ford recalls Mondeo and Edge vehicles in China[10]Changan Ford recalls Mondeo and Edge vehicles in Chinaauto.sina.com.cn
Changan Ford announced a recall in China of specified New Mondeo and Edge vehicles produced during the periods stated in the notice. Their driver-side frontal airbags used Takata inflators that could rupture when deployed and send fragments into the vehicle cabin. The company said it would replace the affected airbag modules free of charge.
2019.11.08
Reported2019.11.11
Changan Ford recalls 547,876 vehicles over airbag risk[9]Changan Ford recalls 547,876 vehicles over airbag riskchina.org.cn
Changan Ford started a recall of 547,876 Mondeo and Edge vehicles because defective airbag inflators may rupture and send shrapnel into the vehicle. The company said it would replace the defective airbags free of charge.
2019.09.27
Reported2019.09.27
Changan and Ford announce deeper cooperation in China[16]长安汽车与福特汽车宣布深化合作finance.sina.com.cn
Changan Automobile and Ford said at a press conference that they would further develop their cooperation, including efforts to innovate their business model and cooperation framework and advance Changan Ford's strategic transformation.

Overview

History

Products and positioning

Controversies

Recent events

Related entries

Sources21 sources