Ford is hoping to claw its way into the Chinese truck market with the Raptor, the performance version of the Michigan-built F-series.
Dozens of China-bound Raptors are now aboard a ship headed for Asia. These will be the first F-series pickups of any kind officially sold there.
Prices for the Raptor start at around $50,000 in the United States. With China’s heavy import taxes, it will cost much more there.
Because of the big price increase, it makes sense for Ford to export the Raptor to China rather than a more ordinary F-150. The Raptor’s huge tires, aggressive design and high-horsepower engine mark it clearly as something different from a standard work truck.
The Raptor is built at the Rouge complex.