Ford Chinese Plant Celebrates 500,000 Focus Production Milestone

The 500,000th Ford Focus rolled off the assembly line at Ford's joint venture plant, in Chongqing, China, today. The model in question was a 1.8-liter silver, 4-door sedan. The Focus is being built here by Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Company (CFMA) and became Ford’s best selling model in China.

The new Ford Focus made its world debut at the 2010 NAIAS this January, with production set to start later in the year in Europe and North America. Market launch will take place here in early 2011, followed by launches Asia, Africa and South America.

"We are proud and delighted to celebrate the 500,000th Focus produced at our CFMA Chongqing production line today," said Jeffrey Shen, President of Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Company. "This shows the confidence and passion that our Chinese consumers have for the Ford Focus, which is now firmly established as one of the best-sellers in China’s mid-size car segment."

The CFMA plant in Chongqing produces both the four-door sedan and five-door hatchback versions of the Focus. The model has played a key role in Ford China’s sales ever since its introduction in September 2005. There have been 17,151 units of the Focus sold in China in January, up 78 percent year over year, followed by its best-ever February sales last month.

"We are committed to delivering world-class vehicles to Chinese customers and will begin manufacturing Ford's next-generation Focus at our new state-of-the-art CFMA plant in 2012," said Robert Graziano, chairman and CEO of Ford Motor China. "The new Focus will spearhead Ford's new generation of global C-cars and is a clear demonstration that our ONE Ford strategy is providing global consumers with great products that harness the best of Ford Motor Company."