Asia Pacific Policy

In Ford’s Asia Pacific and Africa region, sales in China are growing rapidly. Economic growth is a key priority of the Chinese government, to be balanced with energy security and a cleaner environment.

The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) published a draft Stage III fuel consumption Monitoring & Reporting rule and is planning to implement it beginning July 1, 2012. The monitoring period is 2012–2015. During the phase-in period, the ratio of the Corporate Average Fuel Consumption to the Target Corporate Average Fuel Consumption of all automakers must decline from 109 percent of the target in 2012 to 100 percent in 2015. The China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC) began development of a Stage IV fuel consumption target in March 2012.

The Chinese government provides limited incentives for the purchase of “new energy vehicles” (including plug-in electric vehicles) made by Chinese manufacturers for fleets under local government control. The program currently applies to vehicles in 25 cities. Diesel use is discouraged in passenger car applications in the near term, due to fuel availability concerns.

Japan, South Korea and Taiwan have released new or modified fuel economy limits, while Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan have linked tax incentives to fuel economy and carbon dioxide targets.

Ford is actively involved in dialogues with governments across Asia Pacific and Africa in a number of areas, including sustainable mobility, energy security and environmental protection.