BYD is finally losing interest in the Ford plant in Saarlouis, Germany, which the manufacturer hopes to sell soon. The Chinese prefers to build its own factory in Europe.
A few days ago, we learned that Ford intended to put its German plant in Saarlouis up for sale, where the Focus is now produced. And among those interested, the Chinese manufacturer BYD, which relies on local production to integrate the European market in the best way. Finally, the Chinese would take their turn for the Ford factory, favoring the construction of their own factory.
Build rather than buy what already exists
During an interview from BYD’s new North American headquarters in Pasadena, Calif., BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li said, “We don’t focus on certain companies’ facilities.” According to her, the automaker is more interested in building its own factories than in acquiring factories from other companies, such as Ford’s. It is possible that the investment needed to modernize production lines has held back BYD’s management. “We are doing feasibility studies to see our plans for the future,” she added. “If we set up our facility in this region, what would be the best solution there? »
Photo : Ford.
For the moment, the manufacturer has not yet decided on the country where to build its factory or factories. BYD hopes to quickly expand its network of dealers and resellers, as well as workshops, in order to “guarantee consumer confidence in the brand” according to Stella Li. Outside Europe, BYD’s reputation is well established, in particular in China where the manufacturer is overtaking Tesla in the electric car market. But the young brand intends to make a name for itself in Europe, and this notably involves more local production.
Urgent: looking for a buyer
For Ford, it is therefore necessary to continue looking for a buyer for the Saarlouis plant, condemned after the shutdown of the Focus scheduled for 2025. The plant that emerged from the ground in 1970 has seen many historic Ford models pass through, from the Escort to the Fiesta via the Capri, the C-Max, the Kuga or the Focus. Today, it is losing momentum and only produces around 100,000 units per year. Several manufacturers and equipment manufacturers have already positioned themselves for this historic factory, including the Austrian Magna International (which produces the Mercedes G-Class, the Jaguar I-Pace and E-Pace or the Toyota Supra / BMW Z4 duo in Graz) or the Dutch company VDL Nedcar (which has been producing the Mini since 2014 and the Mini Countryman and BMW X1 since 2017).
Photos : DR.
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