Final answer:
Ford struggled to increase sales in China due to several potential reasons, including high product pricing and failure to meet the local consumer expectations with their car designs and quality.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difficulties Ford encountered in increasing sales in China can be attributed to various factors which encompass high product costs, deviation from local taste and preferences, or the reliance on specific locations for manufacturing or engineering. Given the provided context, it appears that Ford's challenges relate to issues such as potentially high pricing and not meeting consumer expectations in terms of product design and functionality, much like the American auto industry experienced in the 1970s during the rise of Japanese automakers. These Japanese competitors, such as Honda and Toyota, capitalized on manufacturing reliable and fuel-efficient cars that were affordable as well. They emphasized innovation, efficiency, and responding to consumer needs, which contributed to their ascendancy in a market where larger American companies had become complacent.