Not more than two weeks ago on July 18, 2011, Ford’s all-new Focus began rolling off the assembly line at The Blue Oval’s Vsevolozhsk plant near St. Petersburg, Russia.
The all-new C-platform-based vehicle looks to have picked up on the success of the outgoing model, with more than 5,000 Russian customers having already pre-ordered the new Focus. And since its introduction to the Russian market in 1999, the Focus has already sold more than 500,000 units. More than 400,000 of these were built at Vsevolozhsk, which began manufacturing the Focus in August of 2002. It only took four years for the plant to produce the 100,000th Focus (in 2006), only three years more to make the 300,000th unit (in 2009), and then only two years more than that to make the 400,000th Focus (in 2011).
The Focus, which will be available in four trim levels, ten exterior colors, and four engines (four gasoline, one diesel) in the country, will be assembled in Russia in its three available body styles — sedan, five-door hatchback, and five-door wagon. The hatch was the first to enter production on July 18th while the sedan and wagon will go into production in September and January, respectively.
Coincidentally, the production date of the all-new Focus in Russia coincides with the first on-sale date of the Focus in South Africa, showcasing Ford’s first truly global vehicle rollout effort in history. Hit the presser for more info.
[expand]All-New Ford Focus Starts Production In Russia
ST. PETERSBURG, Russian Federation, July, 18, 2011 – Production of the all-new Ford Focus began today at Ford’s Vsevolozhsk Plant near St. Petersburg, Russia.
The new Ford Focus will be assembled in Russia in all three body styles: four-door, five-door and wagon. The popular five-door door version began rolling off the assembly line today, while the four-door Focus and the wagon will go into production in September and January, respectively.
More than 5,000 Russian customers have already ordered a new Focus. Russian customers will be able to choose from four trim levels, 10 exterior colours and four engines (three petrol and one diesel).
Like Ford Focus customers around the world, Russian owners will enjoy the vehicle’s class-leading package of smart technologies, safety innovations, quality craftsmanship, excellent fuel economy, and world-class drive dynamics.
The Focus has been a popular vehicle in Russia since it first went on sale there in 1999. To date, more than 500,000 Ford Focus units have been sold in Russia.
More than 400,000 of these cars were built in the country at the Ford plant in Vsevolozhsk, the first production facility owned by a global automotive company in Russia, and which started manufacturing the Ford Focus – the first car off its production lines – in August 2002.
Since then, during seven years the Ford Focus was the best selling foreign made car in Russia, including in 2010.
The start of all-new Ford Focus production in Russia commences on the same day as the first on-sale date for the Focus in South Africa.
Ford Focus Milestones in Russia
2002 Russian production of the Focus begins at the Vsevolozhsk plant near St. Petersburg – the first car built by a global automotive company in Russia in the modern era
2003 Focus begins seven-year run as the best-selling foreign vehicle in Russia
2005 Second generation Ford Focus launched in Russia
2006 Ford Vsevolozhsk produces its 100,000th Russian-built Focus
2007 200 000th Focus built in Russia
2008 Major freshening of the Ford Focus in Europe
2009 Russian production of Focus reaches 300,000th units
2011 Vsevolozhsk Plant produces 400,000th Focus
2011 All-new Ford Focus goes into production on July 18
# # #
[/expand]
No Comments yet