Chongqing, Jan 18: U.S. auto giant Ford Motor Co fired its first salvo at China's competitive but fast-growing auto market on Saturday, saying it expected to sell 20,000 units of its Fiesta small car this year. Sales of the Fiesta -- launched on Saturday as the first car Ford is producing in China and aimed directly at the top-selling models of major foreign rivals -- should jump to 50,000 in 2004, executive vice president David Thursfield told Reuters.

Ford, the world's second-largest auto company, has lagged global competitors such as leader General Motors and Germany's Volkswagen in China. Both started rolling out cars in China years ago and sell a range of different models.
Thursfield said Ford had to quickly push out more products to win a slice of the fastest-growing car market in the world.
"We are conscious of that and we can use our global resources and brands to satisfy the Chinese customer," said Thursfield, head of international operations and global purchasing, in an interview before a ceremony to mark the Fiesta's launch. Bureau Report