Focus production to expand to second plant in 2010
In yet another sign of the times at Ford, it looks like the factory that builds what was not so long ago the best-selling SUV on the plant is shifting gears. Ford's Louisville, KY assembly that has built the Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer for two decades will switch to building small cars in 2010. The current Focus will be replaced by a model developed by Ford of Europe at that time and production will be expanded from the current Wayne, MI assembly location location to Louisville. With the latest capacity increase at Wayne, Ford has capacity for 280,000 Focuses a year. Sales of the compact are already up 35.7 percent this year based largely on its fuel economy.
The new Euro-designed Focus will come in sedan and five door hatchback body styles when it arrives. With the shift to a common platform, current Europe-only variants, including the C-Max compact MPV, are likely to join the U.S. lineup. The new compacts will get direct injected engines and six-speed automatic and manual transmissions to further enhance fuel economy.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dad 5:55PM (6/23/2008)
"Sales of the compact are already up 35.7 percent this year based largely on its fuel economy."
Sam, you always have to say something you don't know to be true or if you know it to be true, you fail to explain.
How do you know it's sales have increased do to its fuel economy? Who told you this? Maybe it was do to SYNC or it's gorgeous styling?
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Dad 5:57PM (6/23/2008)
"Sales of the compact are already up 35.7 percent this year based largely on its fuel economy."
Sam, you always have to say something you don't know to be true or if you know it to be true, you fail to explain.
How do you know it's sales have increased do to its fuel economy? Who told you this? Maybe it was do to SYNC or it's gorgeous styling?
Reply
Justin Benson 8:34AM (6/24/2008)
Well, he did say "largely" not "solely" so I think you have to cut him some slack.
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m.feigen 9:26AM (6/24/2008)
Sorry, but the current US Focus has no gorgeous styling to fall back on; It's been called ugly by press and public since this year's restyling debuted ("Son of Saturn Ion"). As for SYNCH, since it's available in other Ford models and their sales are more lackluster, I'm not sure that's the answer.
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Throwback 12:24PM (6/24/2008)
Price and gas mileage
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