Ford Sollers, a joint venture of Ford Motor Company and OJSC Sollers in Russia, has started production of the new Fiesta four-door sedan and five-door hatchback at its modernised plant in Naberezhnye Chelny, Tatarstan.

Rustam Minnikhanov, president of the Republic of Tatarstan, attended yesterday’s event at the Ford Sollers Naberzhnye Chelny which saw the first Russian-built Fiestas come off the assembly line.

“The new Ford Fiesta manufactured in Russia is built to Ford global quality standards and specifically-tailored to the needs of our Russian customers,” said Ted Cannis, president and CEO, Ford Sollers. “The Fiesta completes the Ford range which is now one of the freshest in the Russian auto industry, and which offers a great Ford product in almost every major market segment.”

The new Fiesta will be the most affordable Ford car in Russia and comes in four specification levels, including the top-of-the-range Titanium series. The car debuts in Russia with a 1.6-litre petrol engine (85 hp, 105 hp, and 120 hp), with the choice of 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic Powershift transmission.

The Fiesta is the second Ford vehicle to be built at the Ford Sollers assembly plant in Naberezhnye Chelny, Tatarstan, and follows the successful production launch of the Ford EcoSport sub-compact SUV late last year.

“The Fiesta has an unprecedentedly high level of local content; we are sourcing more than 100 components from local suppliers,” said Adil Shirinov, executive director and chief operating officer, Ford Sollers. “Starting from 2016, the new Ford Fiesta in Russia will also be equipped with engines manufactured at the new Ford Sollers’ engine plant in Elabuga.”

The Fiesta has been specially tailored to meet the needs of Russian customers by Ford Sollers’ R&D team, and has been subjected to numerous tests to meet local road and climate conditions. As a result, the Russian-built Fiesta features an increased ground clearance, an engine calibrated for RON 92, plus enhanced winter options.

Ford Sollers is launching four new Ford models in 2015, including the Ford Fiesta, the all-new Ford Mondeo launched this April, and the new Ford Focus.