The Ford C-MAX will be launched in China before the end of 2016. (Photo : YouTube)
The North American International Auto Show began on Monday, Jan. 11, in Detroit City, U.S., and world-leading automakers' executives have set their eyes on the Chinese market.
Analysts believe that it is rational to be optimistic about car sales in China, according to Sina English. China Passenger Car Association released a report on Tuesday, Jan. 12, revealing that Chinese vehicle sales increased by 16.9 percent in Dec. 2015 as compared to 2014.
According to China Daily, U.S. automaker Ford sold 1.1 million vehicles in China in 2015, an increase of 3 percent from the previous year.
Talking with Xinhua, Ford CEO Mark Fields said he is very optimistic with China. Fields said: "We were very encouraged by the government reducing the purchase tax by 50 percent for automobiles in the fourth quarter. We think that's going to support the auto industry this year."
The CEO admitted that China is in a transition from an industry-based state to one that is service-oriented, but he was encouraged by GDP figures that indicate improving services and consumption in China.
Meanwhile, Daimler AG chair and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Dieter Zetsche, as well has his eyes on China. Mercedes-Benz car sales grew by 39 percent in the third quarter of 2015, outcompeting both Audi and BMW for Chinese car sales.
While neither Mercedes-Benz nor Ford topped the list of best-selling cars in China, made up primarily of Volkswagen and General Motors vehicles, both companies saw increasing breakthrough in the past months.
Zetsche said, "Last year, the overall market was flat, but we grew more than 13 percent, because the automobile depends on the market development if you have a product based on listening to customers."
The Mercedes-Benz chair added that his company is very bullish to pick up speed from last year into 2016.
Ford, on the other hand, is launching its luxury Lincoln brand in China, in addition to the Ford Edge and the Ford Taurus, both expected to hit the market this year. The company is also aiming to entice Chinese consumers interested in environmentally friendly automobiles. The company's spokesperson, Aaron Miller, told Xinhua that the Ford C-MAX would be launched in China before the end of 2016.
