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Ford
would import the Ranger to China and currently has no plans to
manufacture it locally, a spokeswoman said.
The Chinese government's pilot program to relax policies that
restrict pickup trucks from driving in urban areas is a
potential boon for Ford, whose F-series pickup truck has been a
bestseller in the United States for more than 30 years.
At present, the Ranger is targeting markets outside the United
States. However, Ford plans to reintroduce the model, which is
smaller than the F-150, the entry-level F-series truck, in the
country.
Last year, Ford announced plans to sell the high-end Raptor
version of the F-150 in China, to gauge demand in a relatively
undeveloped segment and change the image of the pickup as a
low-end workhorse in China. The first Raptor F150s will be
delivered to customers on Saturday.
The pickup offerings come as wealthy Chinese motorists look to
buy larger cars, with SUVs driving growth in Chinese automobile
sales amid weak demand for sedans.
(Reporting by Jake Spring; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and
Sherry Jacob-Phillips)
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