OREANDA-NEWS. July 08, 2015. Ford Sollers has 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 Ford Focus follows the launch 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. 

Alexander Drozdenko, the Governor of the Leningrad region, said: “I would like to thank the team of Ford Sollers for their commitment to developing the production facilities here in Vsevolozhsk. I am proud that we now have a very modern plant that is capable of building technologically advanced vehicles in the country with the use of locally built parts. The Ford Focus is a true people’s car that really meets the demands of the modern customer in Russia.”

“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 – that’s a tremendous record,” 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.”

Adil Shirinov, executive director and COO, Ford Sollers, added: “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. Over the intervening years, the Focus has won 18 major awards in the country.

The new Focus has been fully-adapted for Russia’s cold winter climate and road conditions by engineers at Ford Sollers R&D center. The new Focus has passed numerous complex tests on Russian roads with various surfaces, quality tests on the newest equipment, and has proven completely capable of coping with the harshest climatic conditions during the winter tests.

The new Focus will be equipped with a special winter package, including an electric windshield defroster, electrically heated front seats and heated steering wheel. The Focus’s ground clearance for the Russian market has been raised up to 160 mm.

Each Focus model will come with a 12-year perforation corrosion warranty, and prices will be announced in Russia on July 16.