Ford's China sales surge 30%

Ford Motor Co boosted its vehicle sales in China 30 percent last year, helped by demand for its Focus compacts.

The automaker sold 216,324 vehicles to Chinese consumers last year, it said in an e-mailed statement today. Wholesale deliveries at its Chang'an Ford Mazda Automobile Co venture rose 60 percent to 217,100, it added.

Ford, which started manufacturing in China in 2001, is speeding up expansion in the world's second-largest vehicle market by adding facilities and new models. It opened a new plant in the eastern city of Nanjing in October and introduced the S-Max in March and upgraded the Mondeo in November.

"We are pleased with our growth in China," said Cheng Mei-Wei, Ford chairman and chief executive officer, in the statement. "We will continue to invest in China and expand our operations to prepare for the next phase of our strategic program."

The Focus was the fastest growing mid-size car in China and one of the top 10 best-selling vehicles, the company said in the statement.