EcoSport starts rolling out from Ford’s third plant in Russia

Ford Sollers, a joint venture of Ford Motor Company and JSC Sollers in Russia, has started production at its modernized plant at Naberezhnie Chelny in the Republic of Tatarstan. Earlier this month Ford Sollers opened its modernized plant in Naberezhnie Chelny – the company’s third assembly plant in Russia, and second in Tatarstan.

The EcoSport SUV is the first model to be built at the plant and will be fully built at the plant with significant locally produced content. Ford adapted the EcoSport for the Russian market. The five-door will also be built at the plant starting next year. The EcoSport has been tested for corrosion and durability, and is fully adapted for Russian cold winter conditions. The EcoSport in Russia is available in a choice of front- and all-wheel drive options, and comes with either a 1.6-litre or 2.0-litre petrol engine paired with a 5- or 6-speed manual or Powershift 6-speed automatic transmission.

The plant, Ford Sollers’ second vehicle assembly plant in Tatarstan and third in Russia, will have a total annual production capacity of up to 115,000 vehicles and employ 1,500 people.

 “We’re proud to announce the start of production of the EcoSport at Ford Sollers’ third assembly plant in Naberezhnie Chelny. This state-of-the art facility will build Ford vehicles to the highest quality levels,” said Ted Cannis, president and CEO, Ford Sollers. “The EcoSport will be a winning addition to the Russian range and will strengthen Ford’s brand presence in the fast-growing SUV and crossover market segment.”  

“We’re on track with our ambitious Ford Sollers business plan,” said Adil Shirinov, executive director and chief operating officer, Ford Sollers. “We are committed to increasing our local content level in Russia. From the very start of production of the Ford EcoSport we are sourcing about 30 components from local suppliers. In addition, we’re already preparing for the launch of new Ford Fiesta next year. This means that in 2015, Ford Sollers will be building 11 Ford vehicles in Russia.”

Ford Sollers now builds Ford vehicles in three assembly plants in Russia, with two – Elabuga and Naberezhnie Chelny in Tatarstan – and a third at Vsevolozhsk near St. Petersburg. Ford vehicles include a full range of SUVs – the full-size Explorer and Edge, mid-size Kuga, and sub-compact EcoSport SUV – and light commercial vehicles including the new Transit family, plus the Focus and Mondeo cars.

In August, Ford Sollers announced that in the following 14 months it would launch six new vehicles, including three in new market segments for the Ford brand in Russia. Ford Sollers also will start to build engines at its Elabuga plant in Tatarstan in 2015.