Ford Lio Ho Motor


Ford Liou-ho Motor is a Taiwanese-based automaker and the primary dealer of Ford vehicles in Taiwan formed in 1972. It is 70 percent owned by Dearborn, Michigan-based Ford Motor Company. The remaining 30 per cent is owned by investors in the former Liou-ho Automotive Industrial Corporation, which previously assembled Toyota vehicles.

History

The company began operations in 1973, assembling Ford models like the Cortina, Escort, and Granada. In 1974 assembly of the Philippine-made Ford Fiera AUV began, although sales were slow as it was more expensive than its more comfortable Japanese competitors. In the 1980s, it began assembly of Mazda-based models, such as the Laser, Telstar and Festiva.
The Taiwan-built Laser hatchback was exported to Canada in the late 1980s, badged as the Mercury Tracer.
Former Ford models unique to Taiwan include the Ford Tierra, based on the Mazda 323 sedan, later rebadged as the facelifted Ford Laser in other Asian markets, the Ford Activa, a rebadged Mazda 323 sedan and hatchback, and the Ford Mondeo Metrostar which later also sold in China, based on the European Mondeo sedan.
Taiwan-market Ford and Mazda vehicles include locally assembled Ford Mondeo, Ford Focus, Ford Fiesta, Ford Escape, Mazda 3, Mazda 5, and Mazda Tribute. Also, all 2007 model year Asia/Pacific Ford Escapes are assembled by Ford Lio Ho. The Taiwan-assembled Mondeo is also exported to China and Saudi Arabia. After the ban on diesel-engined passenger cars was lifted in Taiwan in 2004, Ford Liou-ho became the first local manufacturer to build a diesel car. This was a diesel Focus, introduced in August 2007.
Before Ford divested Jaguar and Land Rover in 2008, and significantly reduced share-holding of Mazda in 2010, the Taiwanese units of these brands were organised under Ford Liou-ho.

Ford Liou-ho Design Technology Centre

Ford Liou-ho Design Technology Centre or Ford Design & Research Centre was built and established by the end of 2002 in Taipei. The Design Technology Centre was in charge of products sold mainly within the Asian Pacific markets including Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, Middle East, Saudi Arabia Japan, China, and Russia.
Noticeable products include the 2005 Ford Equator Concept which later spawned the Asian Pacific Ford Escape, Ford Tierra, Ford Ixion, Ford Mondeo M2000 facelift, Ford Mondeo Metrostar, Ford Escape ZC extensive facelift, Ford Explorer and Ford i-Max. With the Ford i-Max being one of the latest products designed by Liou-ho, the Design Technology Centre was shut down due to the one Ford strategy.