(Yicai) Oct. 12 -- National Distribution Services Division, Changan Ford’s marketing, sales, and services department in China, and Ford Mustang Mach-E, will merge into Changan Ford New Energy Vehicle Technology, a newly established joint venture between Chinese carmaker Changan Automobile and Changan Ford, the JV between Changan and Ford in China, Yicai learned.

Changan Ford NEV was officially established in Chongqing yesterday with Yang Dayong, executive vice president of Changan Ford, and Chen Xiaobo, executive VP of NDSD, serving as the new company’s general manager and deputy GM, respectively.

Changan Auto and Ford have considered the need to explore new cooperation modes in China, a person familiar with the matter told Yicai.

Ford saw Changan’s achievements in the EV field so that it will conduct an “in vitro incubation in the same way,” the person added, noting that Changan Auto also wants Ford’s global resources to have the chance to accelerate its overseas expansion via Ford.

Founded in 2001, Changan Ford produces and sells Ford-branded fuel cars in China. Its annual sales volume reached a peak of nearly one million units.

Ford independently introduced the Mach-E in the Chinese market in 2021 through Ford Mustang Mach-E. But the model has never really sold well in the country. In August, Changan Ford took over Ford Mustang Match-E.

On Sept. 20, Changan Auto and Changan Ford announced they would set up Changan Ford NEV with shareholdings ratios of 40 percent and 60 percent, respectively. However, since Changan Auto holds a 50 percent stake in Changan Ford, the Chinese carmaker owns 70 percent of the new JV.

Changan Ford said at the time that Changan Ford NEV would drive Changan Ford’s electrification process and bring Ford’s mainstream brands to the Chinese electric vehicle market.

Editor: Futura Costaglione