Confirmed: 2011 Ford Focus Electric to Be Built in Michigan

Ford today announced that it is investing up to $550 million to build small cars and electric vehicles at the plant it owns in Michigan, with first models expected to arrive in 2011. But more importantly, the American automaker also confirmed that the new facility is the one to roll off the 2011 electric Ford Focus, "helping Ford meet its promise of delivering four new electric vehicles in the US by 2012," as it said in a release.

The zero-emission Ford Focus is developed in partnership with Magna International and is powered by a lithium-ion battery pack compatible with 110- and 220-volt outlets.

"The vehicle is one part of a larger strategy Ford announced in January to develop electric vehicles for North America quickly and affordably by leveraging its global platform capability," the company explained.

In addition to Focus electric, Ford will also produce a next-generation hybrid and a plug-in hybrid in 2012 plus a Transit Connect battery electric commercial vehicle for North America in 2010.

“We’re changing from a company focused mainly on trucks and SUVs to a company with a balanced product lineup that includes even more high-quality, fuel-efficient small cars, hybrids and all-electric vehicles,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of The Americas. “As customers move to more fuel-efficient vehicles, we’ll be there with more of the products they really want.”

The electric flavor of Ford Focus was first announced on May 6, 2009 and is regarded as the first major step made by the American company towards a greener product lineup that could help it comply with government requirements.