In many major parts of China’s most developed coastal regions, pick-up trucks are still banned from entering the city centres. This rule may seem very odd to foreigners, but Chinese regulations make no distinction between a dirty farm truck and a Ford F-150 Raptor, which is already on sale in China.

Some cities like Chongqing and provinces of Liaoning, Henan, Hebei and Yunnan have lifted the ban, while others have relaxed restrictions on how far into the city centre pick-up trucks can drive.

Major cities of Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen still ban pick-up trucks from entering the city centre but driving in the suburbs is allowed.

However, the Chinese automotive industry is confident that the restriction will be lifted soon and Ford is preparing itself for a sharp rise in demand for lifestyle pick-up trucks.

At the ongoing 2023 Shanghai Auto Show, Ford announced that it will soon introduce a locally manufactured Ford Ranger for China.

No timeline has been provided but Ford says the Chinese Ranger will be supported by optional OEM accessories fully homologated to Chinese regulations.

The Chinese market Ford Ranger will most likely be produced at local partner JMC’s plant in Jiangxi, which already makes the Ford Everest, the Ranger's SUV twin.

Other countries that manufacture / locally assemble the Ford Ranger include Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, South Africa, Argentina, and USA.