Ford to Strengthen International Presence Through New Strategy

On February 10, the official spokesperson for Ford Automobiles confirmed that Deputy Chairman and Executive Chairman of Ford China, Wu Wenyu has assumed responsibilities over the international market division (IMG). Jeff Marentic, the current IMG President, will report directly to Mr. Wu.

It has been announced that Ford is set to unveil a total of two new energy products jointly developed with their Chinese industrial partners in the coming year; apart from this, Ford Automobiles also plans to intensify investments in digitalization, AI, and talent development in China, and eventually export these innovative technologies across the globe.

The effectiveness of Ford's business strategy in China has been recognized by its board of directors. In a statement, Jim Farley, CEO and Executive Chairman of Ford Automobiles expressed his expectations: "Ford is going to accelerate our progress with the Ford+ plan, establishing a capable management team guided by our mission. On this rapidly changing stage, we need success as a company that's more growing in revenue, higher profit margins, and environmentally friendly."

This announcement coincides with Wu Wenyu taking on additional responsibilities following his appointment earlier this year as Executive Chairman of Ford China. His previous tenure saw the creation of an operational strategy centered around key businesses, leveraging unique products to provide better value for customers, collaborating with local industrial partners in developing new energy vehicles, and expanding into global overseas sales channels.

Since then, Wu led Ford China's business through a significant turning point: the company shifted from losses in Q3 2023, followed by a series of six consecutive profitable quarters. In terms of figures, the Chinese factory shipped nearly 170,000 units across 2024; this translates to surpassing an increase over sixty percent compared to last year.

Jim Farley comments on Wu's effective success: "Under Mr. Wu’s leadership, Ford China turned losses into gains in half a year and seized business growth opportunities to tackle the intense market competition. This exceptional leadership will definitely be a vital asset for us as we continue to achieve profitable growth both domestically and internationally."

In his analysis of the company’s global transformation strategy over the next few years, Jim emphasizes: “For success in markets such as India Southeast Africa Australia and Middle East, it is essential that we capitalize on the rapidly expanding export business from China, making Ford more competitive across international markets in the process.”