(April 23, 2014) BEIJING, China — Moving forward with its plan to bring 15 new vehicles to the Chinese market by 2015, and building on its impressive momentum in the Asia Pacific region, Ford is giving visitors to Auto China 2014 an exclusive and interactive look at its growing lineup of global vehicles and innovative, smart technologies.

Ford is introducing two new production vehicles. The all-new Ford Escort (pictured below) is being shown for the first time globally and was developed with the Chinese market in mind. Auto China 2014 is also the Chinese auto show debut of the all-new Ford Mustang. In addition to these production cars, Ford is giving a glimpse at the design direction of a future vehicle with the Ford Everest Concept.



“We are committed to delivering on Henry Ford’s promise to open the highways to all mankind,” said Alan Mulally, president and CEO, Ford Motor Company.  “As we are demonstrating here today, that promise means delivering a full family of quality, fuel efficient, safe and smart vehicles to our customers in China.”

Ford’s entire China product lineup is on display at Auto China 2014, including China’s best-selling nameplate, the Ford Focus, the new Ford Fiesta, as well as the all-new Ford Mondeo, Ford’s full family of SUVs and two high-performance hot hatches, the Ford Fiesta ST and Focus ST.

The expanding product line has helped Ford to grow rapidly in China. In 2013, Ford’s sales in the world’s largest auto market rose 49 percent to a record 935,813 vehicles, and in the first quarter of 2014, sales rose 45 percent from a year earlier to 271,321 vehicles.

Auto China 2014 marks the China unveiling of the new Ford Everest Concept, (pictured at left) a preview of a midsize, seven-seat off-road SUV that could be produced for the Chinese market by Ford’s joint venture partner, JMC.

“The Ford Everest Concept, created by our outstanding regional team in Australia, previews a bold new direction for the midsize off-road SUV segment that would allow us to serve a wider range of consumers here in China,” said John Lawler chairman and CEO of Ford China. “It’s a concept that offers beautiful design, premium refinement and rugged capabilities in equal measure. A vehicle like the Ford Everest Concept would be a great addition to our growing stable of SUVs, helping us to further strengthen our position in the rapidly growing utility segment.”

Featuring Ford’s characteristic design DNA, including a prominent inverted trapezoid grill, the Ford Everest Concept’s tough but refined appearance communicates a highly capable vehicle that is equally at home in the city or off-road, and one that is unmistakably a Ford.

Designed to meet the demands of Chinese consumers within the fast-growing compact car segment and built on a global platform, the all-new Ford Escort is a powerful statement of Ford’s commitment to the Chinese market and the latest proof point in Ford’s plan to bring 15 new vehicles to China by 2015.

“The Ford Escort is a perfect example of how Ford’s global approach can be fine-tuned to meet the needs of individual markets by listening to customer feedback,” said Marin Burela, president, Changan Ford Automobile. “Taking Ford’s hugely successful C-car platform as a foundation, the all-new Ford Escort puts us in a perfect position to serve Chinese customers looking for an alternative and attainable compact car.”

The exterior houses a refined and roomy interior, outstanding safety features and innovative technologies like the Device Dock. A new way to store, mount and charge devices like mobile phones, MP3 players and satellite navigation systems, the Device Dock integrates them seamlessly into the in-car entertainment system.

“Even as the Ford Focus remains the best-selling nameplate in China, we recognize that many consumers in China are looking for something else in a compact car,” said Luo Minggang, executive president, Changan Ford Automobile. “The Ford Escort is the answer to the question of what these consumers really want and value in a car for themselves and their families.”

Chinese auto enthusiasts have a chance to get up close and personal with the latest version of Ford’s iconic pony car for the first time at Auto China 2014, as the sleek and sophisticated all-new 2015 Ford Mustang makes its Chinese auto show debut in the Year of the Horse.

The all-new Mustang was designed using classic features from the car’s five decades in production — including the tri-bar tail lights, shark-nose front end, elongated hood and muscular rear — while incorporating Ford’s global design DNA to make a contemporary vehicle that is uniquely Mustang.