Ford Motor Co. said on April 22, 2016, that it would sell its redesigned F-150 Raptor high-performance pickup in China starting in 2017, shipping trucks built at its Dearborn Truck Plant in Michigan.
A first for the F-150 in China
The Raptor became the first version of Ford’s full-size F-150 pickup offered in China, CNNMoney reported. The 2017 Raptor is based on the aluminum-bodied F-150. It uses a turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 rated at more than 411 horsepower and a 10-speed automatic transmission developed jointly by Ford and General Motors.
The China version gets small changes, including roof lights that Chinese rules require on larger vehicles.
Built in Michigan
Because the trucks are made in Dearborn, they face China’s high taxes and fees on imported vehicles, so the Raptor was expected to cost much more in China than in the USA. Ford president of the Americas Joe Hinrichs said the truck would appeal to image-conscious Chinese buyers who already knew of it online.
“By introducing it to the world’s largest auto market, we hope to inspire a new generation of off-road enthusiasts,” said John Lawler, chairman and CEO of Ford Motor China.
Source & credit
Source: CNNMoney: “Ford to sell made-in-USA Raptor in China”, April 22, 2016.