Ford Launches Russian Production of Latest Focus

VIENNA – Volume production of the new-generation Ford Focus is under way at Ford’s plant in Vsevolozhsk near St. Petersburg, Russia.

Five-door first Focus body style launched at Russian plant.

The 5-door hatchback launched Monday is the first model to begin output at the plant, with the 4-door sedan set to roll out in September and the wagon to follow in January.

More than 5,000 Russian customers already have ordered a new Focus. The first cars will arrive at dealerships in August.

Russian Focus production started in August 2002. To date, more than 500,000 units have been sold in that country, including more than 400,000 cars manufactured locally.

Ford sold 53,556 light vehicles in Russia this year through June, up 36% from like-2010, returning to pre-economic-crisis volumes.

This figure includes 38,438 Focus and 6,766 Mondeo cars. The Mondeo also is manufactured in Vsevolozhsk. In June, Russia was the No.1 market for Mondeo sales in Europe with 1,743 units sold, about 25% of all European Mondeo deliveries in the month.

Ford manufactured 80,390 cars in Russia last year, well short of the Vsevolozhsk plant’s capacity of 125,000 units annually.