(Yicai Global) April 29 -- Ford China yesterday named He Xiaoqing as head of its passenger car joint venture in China, with full responsibility for operations. He will be Changan Ford Automobile’s first Chinese president in a decade.

The new chief’s goal will be to deepen the partnership between the JV’s major shareholders and restore Changan Ford’s place among leading JVs, the statement said. He will also push to make the JV play a key role in advancing Ford China’s passenger vehicle strategy.

He previously served as vice president of Ford China’s Enterprise Alliances. Prior to joining Ford China, he held senior positions at several Chinese automakers, including vice president of Chery Automobile and Nanjing Automotive Group.

Ford China’s auto business in the country will focus on Ford passenger and commercial vehicles, Lincoln cars as well as electric autos, the firm added.

Changan Ford is a 50-50 venture of Ford Motor and China Chang’an Automobile Group, with plants in the cities of Chongqing, Hangzhou and Harbin. Chongqing is Ford’s biggest production base outside of Detroit.

Changan Ford’s sales and profits have fallen since 2016. But the situation began to improve in the second half of last year. Sales rose 16 percent to 213,700 in 2020, while first-quarter sales this year jumped nearly 50 percent from a year ago to 49,300.

Steven Armstrong, Changan Ford’s former president, will serve as transformation officer at Ford South America and India to evaluate fund allocation in India and lead business restructuring in South America, Ford China said.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Peter Thomas