FORD Motor Corp is likely to build a new factory in China as it seeks to nearly triple sales over the next 10 years and also to replace an existing plant, said 21st Century Business Herald yesterday.

The car maker wants to increase output with a new factory in Tianjin in northern China as its venture with Japan's Mazda Motor Corp may be disbanded, the newspaper said, citing unnamed sources.

Ford also partners Chongqing Changan Automobile Co to produce Ford Mondeo, S-max, Focus and Mazda 3 sedans in Chongqing. It also has plants in Nanjing, making Mazda 2 sedans and Fiesta.

As part of its "3158 Strategy," launched this year, the proposed new plant aims to help Ford to boost sales to 1.5 million units by 2020 and to snare an 8 percent share of China's auto market by then, the US auto maker said.

Officials from Ford China yesterday declined comment.

The report said Ford needs a new factory because Mazda may take over the Nanjing plant as the partners proposed to replace their three-way tie-up in favor of each forming a 50:50 venture with Changan.