Why Mazda Wants A Chinese Divorce From Ford

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

Everybody is denying that Mazda’s Chinese joint venture with Ford is quickly coming to an end. The Nikkei is unfazed by the chorus of contradiction. Today’s edition of the Japanese paper sheds more light on the impending divorce in China: Mazda wants “to give itself more latitude to navigate the growing market as it sees fit.” That’s putting it mildly.

In 2003, Mazda had entered a joint venture with China’s FAW. The successful cooperation is on-going. Three years later, Mazda was asked by Ford to join Ford’s joint production venture with Chang’an. Mazda had to split its Chinese operations into two, dividing its attention in the market. Ask the folks at Volkswagen how much fun it is to deal with two joint venture partners in China. Mazda had it even worse. The three-way Ford/Mazda/Chang’an tie-up “often had difficulty agreeing on production plans,” said a Mazda executive to The Nikkei, and he most likely was polite.

Says the Nikkei: “Against this backdrop, Mazda reviewed its China tie-up with Ford, leading to the termination decision.”

China is not only the world’s largest auto market, with around 13.64 million new cars sold. It also has turned into Mazda’s most profitable market. Ending the cumbersome three-way joint venture will give Mazda necessary breathing space, and the ability to implement decisions quickly. For instance, the only car Mazda makes at the joint-venture Nanjing factory is its Demio subcompact, a model that makes Chinese consumers yawn. With the joint venture ending, Mazda could shift the Axela production from a joint-venture plant in Chongqing to Nanjing, boosting capacity utilization.

What Mazda needs are strong partners in strong markets. The Nikkei sees Mazda getting closer with Toyota (Mazda has decided to procure a hybrid system from Toyota.) As for markets, The Nikkei opines: “Seeing that Mazda’s only emerging-market plants are in China and Thailand, it may be wise to explore linking up with a partner in other such countries, where auto demand is growing more rapidly than in developed markets.”

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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  • Imag Imag on Jan 19, 2010

    I've said this before, but in my opinion, anything that makes Mazda more profitable is good for all of us. No other car company supports enthusiast-level racing so thoroughly or puts out vehicles so oriented to enthusiast values at a reasonable cost. So my best wishes go to Mazda in China. Hopefully it gets them the cash to finish the 16X...

  • PrincipalDan PrincipalDan on Jan 19, 2010

    What a classy little chassis! The cars nice too, the "clown face" is starting to grow on me.

    • Mpresley Mpresley on Jan 19, 2010

      Take a stiff drink, a couple of aspirins, then go to bed early and in the morning you'll feel much better and be thinking straighter. And for god's sake, stop eating at Ronald McDonalds. The Chinese buffet is OK, though.

  • FreedMike Off topic, but folks, this site is not working well for me from a technical standpoint, and it doesn't matter if I'm using my phone, or my computer (on two different browsers). It locks up and makes it impossible to type anything in after a certain point. Anyone else having these issues?
  • Syke Kinda liked the '57, hated the '58. Then again, I hated the entire '58 GM line except for the Chevrolet. Which I liked better than the '57's. Still remember dad's '58 Impala hardtop, in the silver blue that was used as the main advertising color.
  • Dartdude The bottom line is that in the new America coming the elites don't want you and me to own cars. They are going to make building cars so expensive that the will only be for the very rich and connected. You will eat bugs and ride the bus and live in a 500sq-ft. apartment and like it. HUD wants to quit giving federal for any development for single family homes and don't be surprised that FHA aren't going to give loans for single family homes in the very near future.
  • Ravenuer The rear view of the Eldo coupe makes it look fat!
  • FreedMike This is before Cadillac styling went full scale nutty...and not particularly attractive, in my opinion.
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