Ford has shrugged off criticism that its new Chinese-made Fiesta is an outmoded model. The motor began rolling off the Ford Motor Company joint venture plant in SW China on January 18.

The Chinese media had claimed that the model was a mere copy of the India-produced Ikon.

Ford last week defended itself, and the Fiesta.

"The Fiesta made in China is a much newer model than the Ikon in India, although both are based on Ford's Europe-developed Fiesta," says Kenneth Hsu, spokesman of Ford's China operation.