Ford invests to grow

Ford Motor Corp is investing 7 billion yuan ($1.1 billion) in China to expand output to accelerate its development.

The United States car maker is building a factory in Chongqing to increase its total capacity to 650,000 units by 2012, according to Marin Burela, president and chief executive officer of Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Co.

The car maker also plans to increase power train and engine output to 750,000 units, up from 400,000 units now, he added.

Limited product offerings and slow market response have led Ford to lag behind not only international rivals such as General Motors but also Chinese car makers like Geely Automotive Holdings.