Ford Sollers starts rolling out new Focus at Russian plant

Ford Sollers today started production of the new Ford Focus at its modernized Vsevolozhsk plant close to St. Petersburg. The Ford Focus will be produced in three body styles for the Russian market – sedan, hatchback and wagon.

The start of production of the new Focus follows the launch of the all-new Mondeo earlier this year at the Ford Sollers Vsevolozhsk Assembly Plant which has undergone significant modernization to deliver high quality, innovative and technologically-advanced new Ford vehicles. This has included the installation of new equipment; an increase in automation; new technological processes; and upgraded production ergonomics. The overall investment in the plant since it opened in 2002 has now reached $400 million. 

“More than 720,000 Ford Focus cars have been sold in Russia since the car first went on sale 13 years ago and for many years it was Russia’s No.1 top-selling car,” said Ted Cannis, President and CEO, Ford Sollers. “The new Focus – the most technologically-advanced Focus ever – will strengthen our position in the market and is sure to be a big hit with our customers.”

Added Adil Shirinov, executive director and COO, Ford Sollers: “The new Focus is the fourth new Ford model to go into production at a Ford Sollers plant since the beginning of the year, and follows the all-new Mondeo in Vsevolozhsk, the Transit in Elabuga, and the Fiesta in Naberezhnie Chelny. Ford Sollers now produces seven Ford vehicles at its three assembly plants in Russia, and we are not slowing down in the development of our business. We are continuing to invest in the modernization of our manufacturing facilities in Russia. For example, this year we will start local production of engines at a newly-constructed facility in Elabuga.”

Production of the Ford Focus started in the Vsevolozhsk plant in 2002, and it was the first Ford model built in Russia in the modern era.