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GM and Ford quarterly sales continue to slump in China

BEIJING — General Motors and Ford announced their quarterly sales in China fell, albeit at a slower pace sequentially, as the U.S. automakers were hit by a slowing economy amid the Sino-U.S. trade war. GM's vehicle sales in China for the quarter ended June 30 dropped 12.2%, while Ford's sales slumped by 21.7%. While GM also suffered from heightened competition in its key mid-priced SUV segment, Ford was hurt by the limited new models for customers to choose from. For the first quarter of this year, Ford's sales in China tumbled 35.8 percent while GM's skid 17.5 percent. Still, the numbers from GM, the second biggest international automaker in China by sales, and Ford portend more uncertainty for the industry which is trying to rebound from a downward spiral that led to its first annual sales decline last year in more than two decades. GM delivered 1.57 million vehicles in China in the January-June period this year, while Ford delivered 290,321 vehicles. China's factory activity shrank more than expected in June, highlighting the need for more economic stimulus amid higher U.S. tariffs and weaker domestic demand. Annual car sales in China fell last year for the first time since the 1990s, and they are expected to fall this year too. Sales tumbled 16.4% in May from the same month a year prior, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) said. That marked the 11th consecutive month of decline and followed falls of 14.6% in April and 5.2% in March. U.S. car companies' share of total China passenger vehicles sales fell to 9.6% in the first five months of this year from 10.9% in the year-ago period, according to CAAM. Over the same period, German car makers' share has risen to 23.3% from 20.9% and Japanese auto makers' to 21.3% from 17.3%. CAAM is set to announce June sales next week, which industry analysts forecast will be negative.   New models In China, GM has a joint venture with SAIC Motor Corp, in which the Buick, Chevrolet and Cadillac are made. It also has another venture, with SAIC and GuangxiAutomobile Group, in which they make no-frills minivans and have started to make higher-end cars. Sales of GM's affordable brand Baojun dropped 31.8% for the latest quarter. But luxury brand Cadillac's sales jumped 36.6%. GM sold 3.64 million units in China last year, down from 4.04 units in 2017. Ford makes cars in China through its joint venture with Chongqing Changan Automobile Co and Jiangling Motors Corp (JMC).

Ford reveals new Ranger Wildtrak across the Pacific

Want to get your hands on a new Ranger? Ford doesn't offer it here anymore, so you'll have to travel (or relocate) to somewhere it does. Like Bangkok, Thailand, where it just unveiled the new Ranger Wildtrak. Based on the updated Ranger revealed just a few months ago, the new Wildtrak features a more, shall we say, vibrant design as the flagship of the Ranger range. Dark metallic gray accents the nose, mirrors, door handles, air vents, bed rails, and tail lamps for a sportier, more rugged look. It's also got a contrasting hoop at the junction of cab and bed, rectangular fog lamps, 18-inch alloys, and Wildtrak graphics to set it apart from "lesser" Rangers. And the interior has been enhanced as well with all the upgrades applied to the standard model along with sportier trim. Everything else carries over from the standard model, including the diesel powertrain, full suite of the latest electronic assists, and go-anywhere capability. It'll ford (suitably enough) through water over 31 inches deep, clear nine inches above the ground and tow over 7,700 pounds. If you want to know more, you can scope out all the details in the press release below - or better yet, book a flight across the Pacific and see for yourself. 10 JUN 2558 | BANGKOK, THAILAND FORD UNVEILS THE ULTIMATE NEW RANGER; WILDTRAK READY TO TAKE ON THE WORLD WITH BOLD DESIGN, SMART TECHNOLOGY - Aggressive, distinctive design and unique features help new Ranger Wildtrak stand apart from the crowd Striking, modern, car-like interior underscores technological capabilities and adds to premium, sporty feel - Wildtrak boasts full array of smart features, including SYNC 2 connectivity, Lane Keeping Aid, Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Alert, Driver Impairment Monitor and Front and Rear Parking Sensors - World-beating capabilities, including robust electronically controlled transfer case, class-leading 800 mm water-wading capability and 230 mm ground clearance ensure new Wildtrak is up for any adventure - Improved ride and powerful, efficient 3.2-liter latest-generation Duratorq diesel engine help to deliver on Ford's fun-to-drive promise The new Ranger Wildtrak, the ultimate model in the Ford Ranger line-up, makes its global debut today, ready to take on the world with a new array of smart technologies and an even bolder look for one of the world's toughest and most capable trucks.

Ford EcoBoost V6 hits the dyno before hitting the track

Ford Racing just unveiled the Riley Daytona Prototype that will make its racing in the United SportsCar Racing Championship Rolex 24 at Daytona in January, and now it has released a video showing development of twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 that powers the car. Using the same block and heads that can be found on a production Ford Taurus SHO, this new racecar benefits from the collaboration between Ford Racing and Ford powertrain engineers.
While we still don't know what kind of power this engine is putting out, it has definitely gotten a workout at Ford's 17G dyno. This area deep within Ford allows the automaker's racing program to work hand-in-hand with production engine programs, which can be a benefit to racing operations and production cars alike. Scroll down to hear a few people from Ford talk about the crosspollination between its racing and engine teams and watch the EcoBoost get red hot on the dyno.