Ford’s new joint venture engine production facility, Chang’an Ford Mazda Engine Company Ltd. (CFME) in Nanjing, China commenced its production line with a series of engines. The Nanjing assembly and manufacturing plants will supply production operations for Ford and Mazda vehicles in China. Execs representing the three CFME partners signed a joint contract in April 2005 and then five months later broke ground for the plant, which is located in Nanjing's Jiang Ning Economic and Technological Development Zone.

The CFME characterizes an integral progression in Ford’s long-term vision and commitment for the growth of the Chinese market. Mei-Wei Cheng, chairman and CEO of Ford Motor China, Ltd. claimed. “This world-class facility and its state-of-the-art production technologies will push the industry benchmark higher in China, and help bolster the future development and expansion of Ford Motor Company and our partners in the China market”.

The partnership deal is Ford’s latest deployment approach to continue its pace in the expanding automotive market. CFME is actually one of the largest and first-class engine manufacturing plants in China. It has an immense 350,000-unit annual production facility which comprises of three major plants for machining, casting and assembly. There are five primary components of the motor that are being manufactures including the cylinder block, cylinder head, crankshaft, camshaft and connecting rod (this include those Ford tie rod ends).

The CFME’s BZ series engine is one of the world’s finest engines which capture Mazda’s latest engine cues and manufacturing methods. The BZ series engine espouses a modern aluminum cylinder head and block, intake VCT (variable cam timing), plastic intake manifold, tumble swirl control valve (TSCV) and multi-point electronic fuel injection.

The innovative features cater to the improvement of the engine’s performance which enhances more road power, better fuel economy, noise reduction, lessened harmful exhausts and meets the required Chinese government standards.

The World Excellence Awards is given by the Ford Motor Company each year to very deserving companies who have certainly made a grand contribution to the industry and to all other individuals as well. And for this year, Hella takes home the grand award making the company win the award three years in a row.

The company’s subsidiary which is based in Mohelnice, Czechoslovakia, Hella Autotechnik, also takes home the Silver Award for the year 2006. And according to Ford, such was the decision reached for Hella Autotechnik has been doing really well when it comes to costs, logistics, as well as quality of their products and services. For this year, the company has given out 34 Silver Awards, six awards giving recognition to businesses, groups, and individuals, and 15 Gold Awards.

It can also be remembered that lat year, Hella Electronics Corp. was the one who took home the coveted award while Hella Autotechnik, again, takes home the Silver Award.

Hella’s complete name is Hella KGaA Hueck and Co., and it is a supplier of lighting and electronic systems for the auto industry and its market is simply not constrained in the US or in Europe alone but it already has created a global market. This company also is the one behind the development and manufacture of such lighting and electronics systems. Some of the products created by this company include vehicle models, electric systems for vehicles, assistance systems for drivers, as well as air conditioning systems. It is also quite known that this company has been providing the industry and the market with products that are not only safe but also do provide comfort for both passengers or drivers.

But this is not where Hella’s accolades end. In fact, it is not a secret that this company is one huge group that under its roof, you can find one of the greatest organizations of aftermarket parts and accessories for automobiles and cars. It has already established name and fame so much so that it now has over a hundred countries where you can find their stores and it still continuing to grow as we speak.

Kudos Hella!

Almost everybody is going green and the Ford Motor Company surely would not be left behind on such matters. And so, as part of the celebration of Earth Day which falls this 22nd of April, the company has set out their top ten list of their green initiatives.

1. Use of sustainable fabric. An example for this one would be the 2008 Ford Escape vehicle which is the very first vehicle in the US to come with 100% recycled fabric which was used on the seats. The fabric is created by Interface Fabrics, Inc. and makes use of post-industrial waste.

2. Leader in fuel efficient six speed transmission. At present, the Ford Motor Company’s Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands now have fifteen available models using such kind of transmission system.

3. Ford introduces first clean diesel in heavy duty pickup segment. The company is already a leader in the industry in this matter for its 2008 Ford Super Duty pickup truck now uses the very first clean diesel engine unit.

4. Sustainable landscaping preserves environment and looks good. The company has already set out 200 acres which would be used for sustainable landscaping. There would be wildflowers and fields and natural prairies to be set up on these large pieces of land.

5. First two-time winner of EPA’s Energy Star Award. The company has already earned the respect of the US EPA for it has already been awarded the 2007 Energy Star Part of the Year Award in Energy Management.

6. Ford Escape and Ford Focus are more than 80% recyclable. Ford has dismantlers as well as shredders which take apart salvaged vehicles. The materials are then reused and remanufactured and the Escape and Focus already make use of such materials.

7. Paint fumes become fuel at Michigan Truck Plant. What is interesting about the company’s Fumes-to-Fuel system is that it burns up the pain fumes which then produces electricity that is used in their Michigan Truck Plant.

8. Keeping cool with geothermal cooling system. The company’s plant in Lima is not cooled off using air conditioners or the like. What they use is cold water taken from some limestone quarries and this reduces the emission of harmful gases as well as it keeps the environment cleaner than before.

9. Police go green with 2008 Crown Victoria Interceptor. At present, the 2008 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor is the very first and the only vehicle used as a police fleet.

10. World’s Largest Green Roof. And that is according to the Guinness Book of World Records. And the largest belongs to the company’s truck plant in Dearborn and it holds the title as the World’s Largest Living Roof.

Who better to tune Nissan-based vehicles but the Japanese tuning specialist Mitsuoka? Surprisingly, the tuner’s attention is focused on an unlikely donor: the Ford Mustang. The convertible has been spruced up with odd-looking exterior car parts. It seems the Japanese master body builder has increased the level of brashness several notches higher.

Mitsuoka is a small Japanese automobile company which builds modern Japanese cars to resemble British vehicles of the 1950s and 1960s. But really, it’s not the same when the company has taken a hit on the Ford Mustang.

Mitsuoka has a penchant on producing bizarre-looking cars. It seems like the folks at Mitsuoka where fed up with all those Nissan-based, Jaguar look-alikes. Here’s what they came up with: a Mustang that looks like a vehicle that’s gone horribly wrong.

Not many details have been released about the revamped Ford Mustang by Mitsuoka. But the sacrilegious modifications of Mitsuoka may not harbor any sympathy from most car buyers. How many times has a car manufacturer or builder worked on a customer’s car only to fall in love with it? Not too many times but Mitsuoka may just do. Superchargers and suspension work may wind up making their way under the Ford Mustang’s sheetmetal.

The Galue convertible is priced at a hefty $64,500.

Yeah, what about the 2007 SAE World Congress? Have you heard of the FEV Engine Technology Incorporation? It revealed its Powertrain Technology on the said congress. Now that makes sense, right?

The FEV revealed its newest advanced powertrain technology on the recently opened 2007 Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress. The Ford Motor Company also revealed its Lincoln MKS that comes featuring the exclusive Ford part TwinForce turbocharged DI engine.

The domestic automaker and the second larger automaker in the world is dealing with FEV in making a new Turbocharged which will be the engine concept that is capable of direct injection gasoline. If ever it happens, it will be the first time an OEN concept vehicle is displayed at the SAE as a feature technology.

Here are some of FEV Highlights at Booth # 1619 of the SAE World Congress, Cobo Center:

The Ford Motor Company is one among the three most influential car makers of the US. And it is just as one among the three that suffers the same littered financial stability. But among the Big Three with GM and DaimlerChrysler, Ford has been the one suffering a much deeper financial crisis.

Since last year, Ford is continuously experiencing a seemingly endless down fall in almost all aspects. Recalls, resigning officers, losing of some production plants, failure to gain profits on rental car fleets, the counterfeited Ford parts and so on are just few among the burdens that add to the company’s slow deteriorating status. Much more if we talk about its failure to sell.

The domestic car maker’s decline on sales started late last year until this very month. Yes, while the Toyota Motor Company and the Honda Motors Corporation as well as some other Asian auto brands are doing well on car sales, domestic car brands are the ones that failed to rock on the US market. GM, Ford and DiamlerChrysler experience decrease sales of cars on the month of March.

The Ford Motor Company received a 9% decrease on sales on its March report. To compare, in March 2006, Ford was able to sell 291,146 units but only 264,975 units were sold last month. Ford also failed to do well on its rental cars fleets as well as its car sales on the outgoing F-Series pickup trucks.

Well, I guess Ford is used to it, but it doesn’t mean they don’t have to do something about it. Good luck Ford.

If you remember, a dispute between the second largest auto maker, the Ford Motor Company, and Navistar International Corporation was made after the unreasonable price increase on the Super Engine which the car maker uses in its best selling Ford Super Duty trucks. We all know that the Ford Super Duty pick-up truck has it since the first time it was sent to production. But Ford decided to cut the deal with Navistar because of the price increase made by the engine creator.

Because of the absence of the super engine on the truck, the Ford Super Duty did not made a good selling last month, so Ford decided to give the super engine back to where it rightfully belongs. The two large companies have made an agreement that Ford will still receive the super engine by paying the complete amount to Navistar. And soon, the Ford part factory installed super engine will soon be on the truck again.

However, the latest news from Bloomberg tells that the hearing between Ford and Navistar regarding the contract dispute was rescheduled to April 4.

Both Navistar and Ford will be making presentations to the Oakland County Circuit Judge John McDonald so as to resolve the dispute finally. The dispute set had been a threat to Super Duty’s reputation and if the dispute is resolved, the Ford pick up truck may become profitable again and such could help out Ford much when it comes to finances.

The Navistar spokesman Roy Wiley confirmed that the new appointed date for the dispute hearing while the Ford spokeswoman Kristen Kinley said that the delay on the hearing was due to the court’s problems with schedule. The news also said that the hearing will be officiated by a judge and it will be a private briefing.

The dispute all started after Ford sued Navistar because of the failure to pay under the agreement sharing warranty costs. The argument forced the engine supplier to stop the shipment.