Russian plant begins production of Ford Focus

Production of the new generation Ford Focus got underway on February 18 at the Ford plant in St. Petersburg.

The first car in the new series was driven off the production line by Valery Serdyukov, Governor of Leningrad region and Jim Tetreault, vice-president manufacturing, Ford of Europe.

Previewed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in mid-September last year, the new Focus has clearly caught the imagination of the Russian public, with around 20,000 customers ordering a car already.

The new Ford Focus has not only been given a completely new look, but it has also been significantly improved in terms of interior design and craftsmanship.

The new Focus will be assembled in Russia in all 4 body styles  - 3 door, 4 door, 5 door and wagon - , with a choice of five engines, automatic and manual transmissions and in a choice of three trim series: Ambiente, Comfort and Ghia.

"I was hugely impressed by the quick and professional preparations done for the St. Petersburg launch of the new Focus. Everyone working at the plant is doing a terrific job - I am very proud of them and the quality of the vehicles they are producing," said Jim Tetreault, vice-president of manufacturing, Ford of Europe.

The first new Focus which rolled off the conveyor today is also the 250,000th Focus to be sold in Russia since the car was introduced to the market in 1999. The happy customer of the milestone car was at the ceremony in the plant today to receive their vehicle.

With more than five million examples produced in Europe since it was launched in 1998, the Ford Focus was the first car in the world to be acclaimed "Car of the Year" both in Europe and in North America.

In total, the Ford Focus has won over 80 awards in Europe alone. It has significantly influenced the automotive world and at the same time triggered a successful new direction for Ford in Europe.