 The plant will be nearer the more prosperous eastern coast |
Car maker Ford has signed a deal to build a second manufacturing plant in China's eastern Jiangsu province, according to company officials. Production at the plant just outside Jiangsu's capital Nanjing will start once government approvals are obtained.
The new plant will offer easier access to China's prosperous eastern coast.
Ford entered China's market later than other car makers and has been trying to catch up with its key rivals General Motors and Volkswagen.
Far from market
It hopes to sell 200,000 cars in China in 2004, up from 120,000 vehicles last year.
Volkswagen sold around 633,000 of its own-brand cars in China in 2003.
Changan Auto and Ford joined forces three years ago in Chongqing to produce passenger cars.
But unlike its rivals, the plant is a long way from the booming cities on the eastern coast which means it is more costly to bring in raw materials and ship out cars.
From Nanjing, the company will easily be able to service Shanghai.
Models to be produced at the new plant will be decided upon at a later date.
One-Minute World News 
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