Ford's China partner planning to sell in U.S. in 2020
Ford Motor Co.'s newest Chinese partner, Zotye Automobile, is preparing to launch at least two SUVs in the Blue Oval's backyard.
The relatively small Chinese automaker Zotye Automobile International Co. is partnering with California-based HAAH Automotive Holdings to look beyond its home market and form a new sales distribution company in the United States known as Zotye USA (pronounced ZOH-tay) — a tie-up that would sell direct competitors to some of Ford's most lucrative SUVs.
"We're facing a new reality where the Chinese domestic market is slowing for the first time in recent memory," said Michael Dunne, CEO of Hong Kong-based ZoZo Go, a firm that advises automakers on the Chinese market. "Now that things have gone soft, automakers are finding themselves in a situation where they have to export and find new markets. Zotye is possibly the first, but they won't be the last."
Also at MarketWatch and CNET.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 16 2018, @03:08AM
Chinese build to a price point. You want super cheap, you get crap (Walmart, Harbor Freight, etc. want super cheap). Remember that all Apple, Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc. are made in China / Taiwan too.
Datsun (Nissan) broke out into the international market licensing their engine designs from Mercedes. Hyundai originally came with engine designs licensed from Mazda. If this company is a Ford partner, these cars might just be re-badged Ford designs (so no worse than any other Ford).