Ford plans to launch Ranger pickup truck in China in 2018

Ford would import the Ranger to China and currently has no plans to manufacture it locally, a spokeswoman said.

The Chinese government's pilot program to relax policies that restrict pickup trucks from driving in urban areas is a potential boon for Ford, whose F-series pickup truck has been a bestseller in the United States for more than 30 years.

At present, the Ranger is targeting markets outside the United States. However, Ford plans to reintroduce the model, which is smaller than the F-150, the entry-level F-series truck, in the country.

Last year, Ford announced plans to sell the high-end Raptor version of the F-150 in China, to gauge demand in a relatively undeveloped segment and change the image of the pickup as a low-end workhorse in China. The first Raptor F150s will be delivered to customers on Saturday.

The pickup offerings come as wealthy Chinese motorists look to buy larger cars, with SUVs driving growth in Chinese automobile sales amid weak demand for sedans.

(Reporting by Jake Spring; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Sherry Jacob-Phillips)