Thailand Loses Ford Motor Co. Headquarters

[Mai Krap]

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090618-710856.html

JUNE 18, 2009, 12:18 P.M. ET

Ford Confirms Plans To Move Asian HQ To China From Thailand

DETROIT (Dow Jones)-- Ford Motor Co. (F) confirmed Thursday its plans to move its headquarters for the Asia, Pacific and Africa regional headquarters to China from Thailand.

While the move improves management efficiency, according to the auto maker, it also places Ford in what is becoming the biggest car market in the world. China is expected to surpass the U.S. this year in car sales. Ford didn't disclose what city has been selected, although published reports suggest Shanghai.

"Thailand will continue to serve as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations regional headquarters with our Ford leadership team and supporting corporate functions based in Bangkok," Ford spokeswoman Whitney Small said in a statement. "Additional centers of excellence will be established around the region. It is still too early in the process to discuss anything further."

The move comes five years after competitor General Motors Corp. (GM) moved its headquarters to Shanghai from Singapore.

Shares of Ford fell 4 cents, or 0.7%, to $5.67 in recent trading Thursday.

-By Jeff Bennett, Dow Jones Newswires; [email protected]; 248-204-5542

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http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-06/...nt_11564445.htm

Ford to move its Asia executives from Thailand to China

www.chinaview.cn

2009-06-19 03:38:43

CHICAGO, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Ford Motor Co. will move its headquarters for Asia, the Pacific and Africa from Thailand to China, the Detroit News reported Thursday.

While a final decision has not been made, Shanghai will likely become home to Ford's senior executives in the region. However, key operations will remain in Bangkok, along with regional headquarters for the 10 nations that make up the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

"Our leadership team, with supporting corporate functions, will be moving to China," said Ford spokeswoman Whitney Foard Small.

Thailand will continue to serve as the ASEAN regional headquarters with Ford ASEAN leadership team and supporting corporate functions based in Bangkok, Foard Small said.

Thailand has been rocked by political unrest in recent years, including a series of coup d'tats. But, Foard Small said the unrest did not factor into Ford's decision. Rather, she said the move is part of the company's continued integration of its once-disparate global operations, a key element of Chief Executive Alan Mulally's "One Ford" strategy.

"We will be moving functions and expertise to locations that best meet our business needs," she said.

China is on pace to surpass the United States this year as the world's largest market for new car and truck sales.

"It makes sense. China is one of the fastest growing, if not the fastest growing, markets in the world. It's also more of a travel and communications hub," said George Peterson, president of AutoPacific Inc.

General Motors Corp. moved its headquarters to Shanghai from Singapore in 2004.

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