Ford Motor Company might be looking to its joint venture ally – Changan Automobile Group – to manufacture electric vehicles in China. Bloomberg cites Ford chief executive officer Alan Mulally, in China for a groundbreaking ceremony, as the source of this intel:
As we move to more electrification, you're going to see more hybrids, plug-in hybrids and all-electric cars. A rollout of electric vehicles depends largely on infrastructure and advances in battery technology.
However, Mullaly didn't indicate important details like when, or even if, the Blue Oval will start manufacturing electric vehicles in China, which makes it seem that the Focus Electric ( with solar option!) and C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid will arrive in the U.S. first. The electric Focus is supposed to arrive next spring, with the C-Max following sometime after that. The plan for Ford's EVs in China starts with a demonstration fleet before the end of 2011. At the Shanghai Motor Show earlier this year, Ford displayed three electric powertrains in three different vehicles: the Focus Electric, the C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid and the Fusion Hybrid, hinting at what's to come.
It's not just Ford EVs that may soon make an appearance in China. Mulally also hinted that bringing the Lincoln brand there is also on the table.
