Ford's St. Petersburg Plant Produces Its 400,000th Ford Focus

VSEVOLOZHSK, Russia - The 400,000th Russian-built Ford Focus rolled off the production line today at the Ford plant in Vsevolozhsk, near St. Petersburg.

The Ford Focus has been Russia's best-selling car manufactured in the country by a non-domestic manufacturer for the past seven years.

The Ford Focus currently being produced in Russia is the previous version to the all-new model which is just now going on sale in Europe and North America. The all-new Ford Focus starts production in Russia later this year.

“Ford changed the Russian perception of cars when it started producing Ford Focus in 2002," said Mark Ovenden, president and managing director, Ford Russia. “The Focus proved that a volume-produced car could be safe and affordable with attractive design and high quality.”
Gray Greenway, general director of Ford's St. Petersburg plant, said: "We have a phenomenal
team at our plant, and it has been building the Focus with high quality since it was launched in 2002. The customer expects nothing less from a new car, and the team is delivering.
"The Focus represents the dream car for many Russians. It's safe, with best-in-class cost of ownership, and is available in a range of models."
The Russian plant is the only Ford manufacturing facility which produces the Ford Focus in all three body styles: five-door, four-door and wagon.

Ford was the first foreign manufacturer to start vehicle production in Russia. More than 2,700 employees current work at the Vsevolozhsk plant. Each day, the plant produces about 300 cars in two shifts. Total Focus output at the plant last year was 70,000 units.