Ford Asia Pacific and Africa: Climate Change and the Environment

Ford is committed to minimizing the environmental impacts of our vehicles and operations, including reducing our contribution to climate change. This commitment is guided by goals and strategies. We have a science-based strategy to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from our products and processes, based on the goal to stabilize carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations in the atmosphere. We have also made a commitment to deliver the most fuel-efficient vehicles in every market in which we participate.

We’re delivering on this commitment in our Asia Pacific and Africa (APA) region by introducing small cars, fuel-efficient gasoline engines and alternative-fueled vehicles. In China, we have announced that Ford will bring 20 new powertrain products to the country and improve fuel economy by up to 20 percent (compared to 2010) by 2015.

To help accomplish this, we are introducing our fuel-efficient EcoBoost® engines across Asia, and they are being well received by customers. In China, 66 percent of Ford Mondeo vehicles sold in 2012 were equipped with the EcoBoost engine. In early April 2013, we announced that the first application of the 1.5L EcoBoost engine will be the new Mondeo in China. In June 2012 we launched the Ford Edge in China with a 2.0L EcoBoost engine; sales of the EcoBoost-powered Edge accounted for 99 percent of total Edge sales in China from June to December 2012. In Australia, the EcoBoost is now available on the Focus ST and will be in the all-new Ford Kuga. Ford Australia launched the Mondeo with EcoBoost in 2011 and the Falcon with EcoBoost in 2012.

We have also launched the award-winning 1.0L EcoBoost in the region on the all-new EcoSport and new Fiesta. (The 1.0L EcoBoost won the “2012 International Engine of the Year” award from 76 journalists around the world.) The 1.0L EcoBoost made its ASEAN¹ debut in the new Fiesta at the Bangkok International Motor Show in March 2013. And, the EcoSport in India will be powered by the 1.0L EcoBoost. This will make Ford the first manufacturer in India to launch an SUV with a 1.0L gasoline engine. (Read more about the EcoBoost engine in our Climate Change section.)

In India, in addition to our EcoBoost offerings, we continue to introduce vehicles with other engines that have excellent fuel economy. The Fiesta, for example, – powered by 1.5L Ti-VCT gasoline and TDCi diesel powertrains developed for India – delivers class-leading fuel economy and reduced CO₂ emissions compared to the outgoing model. This builds on fuel-economy leadership established with the Ford Figo, launched in March 2010, which has two engine options: a best-in-class, fuel-efficient 1.4L TDCi diesel and a very competitive 1.2L gasoline engine. These vehicles are highly significant to our success in India, as our studies show fuel economy to be the most important criteria in purchase consideration in that country.

As a technology leader in biofuels, Ford will also continue to develop and introduce flex-fuel vehicles that meet market needs throughout the APA region. All current Ford models are compatible with ethanol blends of 10 percent (E10), with the Ford Focus and Ford Escape compatible with ethanol blends of 20 percent (E20).

We are also addressing non-CO₂ tailpipe emissions in the region. Since 2010, our new gasoline-fueled passenger vehicles have been designed to comply with China Stage IV requirements (i.e., non-CO₂ tailpipe emission regulations based on European Stage IV standards). China plans to implement standards based on the most recent European Stage V standards starting in 2013 in large cities. Korea and Taiwan have adopted very stringent U.S.-based standards for gasoline vehicles, with European-based standards for diesel vehicles. Japan, which has unique standards and test procedures, began implementing more stringent standards in 2009. Ford is working to comply with all of these standards using a variety of approaches, including on-board diagnostics and after-treatment technologies.

In terms of facility-based emissions, we monitor greenhouse gas emissions at our plants in China and Taiwan, and we were the first automaker in China to voluntarily report greenhouse gas emissions at our plants. One way we’re reducing greenhouse gas emissions is by bringing new technology into the plants, such as the “Three-Wet High Solids” paint process, which allows multiple coats of paint to be applied without having to bake each one dry first. This saves an enormous amount of energy in the drying process, reduces CO₂ emissions and cuts the amount of waste chemicals produced. The Chongqing 2 and Ford Motor Thailand plants used this and other initiatives to reduce the carbon footprint of their manufacturing. Ford’s upcoming new integrated facility in Sanand, Gujarat, in northwest India will employ the most efficient and environmentally friendly technologies, including Ford’s rotational dip technology and the Three-Wet process, dramatically improving paint quality, depth and durability, as well as significantly reducing volatile organic compound emissions, CO₂ emissions and waste.

For a discussion of our global climate change impacts, policies and commitments, please see the Climate Change and the Environment section.