Full Throttle into 2026: Ford China National Dealer Conference Concludes in Liuzhou

点击链接阅读中文版：《“福启新程，马到成功” 2026福特中国经销商大会在柳州圆满落幕》

[LIUZHOU, CHINA] – On January 28, the 2026 Ford China National Dealer Conference kicked off in Liuzhou. Bringing together dealer investors and general managers from across the country, the summit charted a clear course for the year ahead. 

Elena Ford, Ford Chief Dealer Engagement Officer and member of the Ford family, attended in person to underscore the brand’s deep commitment to the Chinese market.

Opening the event, Sam Wu, President and CEO of Ford China &IMG, delivered a powerful keynote addressing the industry’s ongoing transformation. Reassuring partners amid a complex market, he stated:"Ford’s electrification is accelerating, not retreating."

Sam Wu outlined a clear "dual-track" strategy spanning ICE, Hybrid, EREV, and EV segments, leveraging China’s world-class NEV supply chain alongside Ford’s rigorous global engineering standards. The goal: products with a "Hardcore Soul" (Ford’s heritage) and a "Smart Body" (Chinese innovation).

The presence of Elena Ford, Chief Dealer Engagement Officer, underscored the Ford family’s direct support for the China market. She highlighted the successful network integration of late 2025, which, while challenging, has already led to improved dealer profitability and a healthier ecosystem.

Under her leadership, the Global Dealer Engagement (GDE) team pledged continued support for initiatives like the Ford Dealer Advisory Board (FDAB), off-road training empowerment, and the introduction of the "Ford China President’s Award" and "Anniversary Award" to recognize excellence in customer experience and loyalty to Ford brand, and continue “solute to dealers”, to those who are committed to support communities through philanthropy and service..

Molly Yang, VP of Communications and CSR, shared the inspiring results of the "FordDR (Ford Disasters Relief) Program." In 2025, the program conducted 25 disaster-relief training sessions across 15 cities, benefiting over 900 owners. For 2026, the program will evolve into a tiered training system, empowering more dealers to lead local community hero initiatives.

Xiaobo Chen, President of Ford Motor Sales & Service Company, reviewed the resilient performance of 2025. Despite aggressive price wars, Ford maintained price stability and saw a significant increase in profitable dealerships post-integration.

Looking forward, Ford will double down on its new brand proposition: "Ready Set Ford." The 2026 strategy focuses on:

• Scene-Defined Products: Dominating the Performance and Off-Road segments with the most diverse powertrain lineup among the joint venture OEMs; Creating the ultimate outdoor and off-road lifestyle brand
• A Unified brand image, platform and experience: The Ford Ecosystem 2.0
• Winning Battles: Enhancing leads conversion and lifecycle management together with dealers

Experiencing the "Wild"

To close the event, dealers headed to the upcoming Liuzhou Off-Road Park for a high-octane test drive of the Ford Bronco and other flagship models. Experiencing the raw power and resilience of the vehicles firsthand solidified the collective confidence of the dealer network.