As Chinese automakers speed toward the U.S., troubled Dearborn, Mich.-based carmaker Ford Motor Co. needs to accelerate its Way Forward restructuring plan. Two Chinese carmakers have set 2008 as the target for introducing their vehicles in the United States. However, most of Ford's new models will be arriving at the same time as Nanjing Motors introduces its MG roadsters and Visionary Vehicles introduces Chery Automobiles. While the MG sportscars may not directly compete with Ford's lineup, the newcomer's models will steal attention from Ford's redesigns. The real threat to sales at Ford is the introduction of the Chery sedans, which will compete squarely against Mercury's mid-size Milan, full-size Montego and Lincoln's MKZ. The Chinese are not following the lead of the Japanese and Koreans, who focussed on the bottom of the market when they arrived in the 1970s and 1980s. As a matter of fact, Chery specifically is targeting the luxury market. While Chery has identified BMW and Mercedes buyers as its target demographic, odds are Chery's plans to offer up to 20 models over five years starting in 2008 will really draw sales away from Ford's Mercury and GM's Buick — the also-rans of the semi-luxury car market. Visionary is the latest automobile business of Malcolm Bricklin, who is best known for bringing Japan's Subaru to the U.S. in the 1960s and later importing the Yugo in the 1980s. —Matthew Wurtzel
See story about Ford from The Deal
See a full list of redesigns and the text of Ford executive Mark Field's speech from AutoBlog
See story about Nanjing from Reuters
See story about Chery from Reuters
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