Changan-Mazda-Ford: End Of A Threesome

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

A three-way relationship in the open is every man’s dream. Those who tried it usually recommend against it. Why? Just ask them. As predicted, Mazda is putting an end to the three way Chinese Changan-Mazda-Ford joint venture. Mazda wants to go it alone with Changan, and no longer play third fiddle.

According to The Nikkei [sub], “Mazda will effectively end its production partnership with Ford in China and turn their three-way joint venture with Changan into a 50-50 Mazda-Changan venture.”

Plans have been filed for approval with the Chinese government, and “we should get the approval from the government by the end of this year if the procedure goes just as smoothly, and the three-way partnership should split completely before 2012,” a source from Changan-Ford-Mazda said to Gasgoo.

Production of the Mazda 2 and 3 has already moved to a factory in Nanjing, and all the future models will be labeled as “Nanjing”, Takeshi Araki, vice president of the Nanjing facility said.

The current joint venture, Changan Ford Mazda Automobile is 50 percent owned by Changan Automobile, 35 percent owned by Ford and 15 percent owned by Mazda. It has factories in Chongqing and Nanjing. The Nanjing plant will be spun off and operated by Mazda and Changan. Ford plans to operate the Chongqing plant with Changan.

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • 50merc 50merc on Jul 02, 2010

    My gosh, guys, the subject is Changan-Mazda-Ford. Didn't you notice? You know, you're supposed to read TTAC for the articles. But, yes, big improvement in the picture.

    • Skor Skor on Jul 02, 2010

      Right you are. Since the article is about a a Changan-Ford-Mazda three-way, the dude in the picture should have a couple of smoking hot Asian babes on either side of him. Just sayin'.

  • Robert.Walter Robert.Walter on Jul 03, 2010

    Guy in the middle is Chang-an? Babe in the white is Ford? Babe in the black is Mazda? How did that old Mary Macgregor song go? "There's been another that I've needed and I've loved But that doesn't mean I love you less And he knows he can't possess me and he knows he never will There's just this empty place inside of me that only he can fill Torn between two lovers, feelin' like a fool Lovin' both of you is breakin' all the rules (wash, rinse, repeat) You mustn't think you've failed me Just because there's someone else You were the first real love I ever had And all the things I ever said I swear they still are true For no one else can have the part of me I gave to you."

  • M 1 M 1 on Jul 03, 2010

    Is that guy sporting some kind of dolphin tattoo? If so, at best, he's going to wind up spotting the chicks. You need another shot of lube? More merlot? Is the pillow chafing? Fail.

  • Datereally Datereally on Dec 11, 2010

    Bertel Schmitt Who are these 2 hot babes in the picture? Where I can get the full video of this picture?

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