Mazda to Drop Ford Sales Partnership in Taiwan

Mazda Motor Corp. says it will launch its own sales company in Taiwan next summer to replace a long-time distribution partnership there with Ford Motor Co.

The unit will assume import, sales and customer services from Ford Distribution Taiwan Ltd., which will continue to sell and service Mazda vehicles during the transition.

Mazda has been disengaging itself with Ford since the American company began winding down its 33.4% equity stake in Mazda five years ago.

The two companies will continue to assemble Mazda3 sedans and Mazda5 minivans in Taiwan through their Ford Lio Ho Motor Co. venture. The Taiwanese market is about 350,000 units annually, but Mazda sales there dropped 20% to about 13,000 vehicles in 2012.