While visiting China to break ground on a third Ford assembly plant, the automaker's CEO, Alan Mulally, announced that Lincolns will officially go on sale in the Asian country during the second half of 2014 through a dealership network independent of the Blue Oval's.
Lincoln's future in North America has long been in question, but the automaker is showing increasing signs of commitment to the flagging division, which used to be the largest luxury car brand but is now a two-bit player in terms of volume.
Ford says it will begin interviewing prospective dealers toward the end of this year, although it hasn't stated which Chinese markets will be targeted for retail outlets.
Product mix
As Lincoln is a minor player abroad, it's unclear just what vehicles the automaker will launch in China. It's safe to assume that the new-for-2013 Lincoln MKZ midsize sedan will be its technological flagship, but we wouldn't be surprised to see Lincoln offer a nearly identical lineup to those sold in the United States.
The MKZ was designed to be able to compete in China, where buyer tastes tend to favor large back seats and high-tech features. The automaker had a dark red MKZ on hand for its announcement in China, where global marketing chief Jim Farley said that Lincoln will try to stand out from the crowd by making its products more personalized and individualized.
Lincoln doesn't sell cars in any high volume market outside of North America, although it does offer vehicles in the Middle East and a few other small markets across the globe.
Ford has said previously that the first Lincolns headed to China will be sourced from North America rather than the automaker's local assembly plants.
Ford - and especially Lincoln - has been slow to expand in the fast-growing Chinese market, especially compared to rivals like General Motors and Volkswagen. GM's Buick brand and VW's Audi unit are the dominant premium brands in China, although BMW and Mercedes-Benz have been quick to gain traction.
