Suppliers Say Brazil to Build Small Car for U.S.

SAO PAULO – Parts manufacturers here confirm reports Ford Motor Co. will build its new B-car here for sale in the U.S.

Production should begin in late 2009 or early 2010, sources say, with volumes projected at 50,000-100,000 units per year.

Ford officials earlier said the car would be targeted as a ’10 model.

Ford Motor Co. Brasil Ltda. President Marcos de Oliveira declined comment on a Dow Jones Newswires report that Ford officials in the U.S. already have signed off on the production plans.

Paulo Cardamone, an analyst with CSM Worldwide Inc., says Brazil beat out Mexico for the right to produce the new car, which “will be targeted only for export.”

Europe is leading development on the new model, which is based on Mazda2 architecture. The new Mazda2 was unveiled at the Geneva auto show in March.

Ford CEO Alan Mulally earlier this year said the car would debut at the Geneva auto show in March 2008. But concept versions of the vehicle reportedly could show up at auto shows in Frankfurt later this year and Detroit in January.