China has taken its first major step into the U.S. car market as General Motors announced it had finalized a deal to sell off its Hummer truck brand to Chinese auto manufacturer Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery.

Under the deal, GM will continue to make the trucks no later than 2010. While a deal has been reached, it is still going to be up to Chinese regulators to approve the deal and decide if the brand can be profitable and fit into the country's overall national strategy to improve energy efficiency.

It is an odd company that says its turnaround is "on track" when market share in its home company and largest market is falling like a rock. But, so say Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) management.

"The closures and the employment reductions to size the capacity to the real demand -- we're a little bit ahead," Ford's CEO told reporters. "But generally (we're) on plan."

Ford has a couple of other cards in the hole. It will probably improve its balance sheet by several billion if it can sell its Jaguar and Land Rover units. And, upcoming UAW contract negotiations may give Ford the chance to beg off pension and benefits cost cuts. But, the point will come when Ford's recovery is measured by a need to spend more money to help improve production for rising sales.

But, a turnaround is not a turnaround without some stability in revenue, and Ford has been unable to show that. Its most profitable vehicles are its SUVs and pick-ups, and the sales of those are running down by double digits most months.

Measuring progress by cost cutting is generally a Faustian bargain. The Devil eventually comes for the whole company.

Douglas A. McIntyre is a partner at 24/7 Wall St.