Ford’s joint venture with Chongqing Changan Automobile sold 30,759 passenger cars in January, an increase of 128 per cent from a year ago. The US company attributed the sales surge to the increasing popularity of its new Fiesta and Focus models.

Another Chongqing company enjoying prosperous times is Chongqing Longxin Engine, which last year topped a list of motorcycle firms ranked by export value. Its 2009 exports were valued at US$265m, according to a report released by China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. During the year it exported 630,090 motorcycles, more than any other Chinese manufacturer.

Chongqing Yinxiang Motorcycle (Group) was in fifth place with exports of US$159m.