Ford eyes 'big jump.'

Ford Motor Co. is looking to expand its dealer network from 300 points today to 700 by 2000. Although Chairman Alex Trotman says penetrating the market remains a tough task, Ford is looking to increase its import sales to 35,000 units in 1996, from an estimated 22,000 this year. Sales will take "a big jump" in 1997, Mr. Trotman says, and reach 200,000 -- half import, half locally assembled -- by 2000. The automaker is nearing launch of a right-hand-drive (RHD) Taurus in Japan, and will add an RHD Explorer to the line by the end of 1996.