The legendary Ford Focus earned yet another accolade recently when the four millionth production vehicle – a Colorado red, TDCi four-door Ford Focus – rolled off the assembly line in Valencia, Spain. In the GCC, where the distinctive nameplate is synonymous with Ford’s ambitious growth in the region, the Focus achieved a 20 per cent sales increase in 2005 compared to 2004.
Hussein Murad, Sales & Marketing director of Ford Middle East, said: “Focus is Ford’s most successful car in Europe, and the popularity of the nameplate across the Middle East is also striking. Focus is increasingly the name customers first associate with the Blue Oval in the region, and this reflects how far the Ford brand has come in recent years in the Middle East.”
“The Ford Focus appeals to young, dynamic, upwardly mobile people who demand an affordable car that doesn’t compromise on style – and the immense qualities of the 2006 Ford Focus have struck a chord with the Middle East’s sizeable youth demographic,” he added.
Produced at assembly plants in Germany, Spain and Russia, Focus achieved European sales of 442,000 units last year. The Focus is also made in the United States, China, Taiwan, Philippines and South Africa. More than 5 million Focus cars have been sold worldwide to date – and the classic C-segment car was officially the world’s best-selling car in 2000 and 2001.
The 4 million milestone does not include Focus C-MAX, of which 370,000 units have been built since its launch in 2003. Ford is experiencing particularly strong demand in Russia, and production capacity for the Focus at the company’s St. Petersburg plant was increased to 60,000 units per month in January.
Murad added: “The first generation Focus in 1998 reinvented C-segment cars for drive, handling, reliability and safety – and the second generation, 2006 Focus, which arrived in the region last year, builds on the nameplate’s class-leading achievements. To have won more than 60 international trade and sales awards over the years is a statement of true class – and the Focus already has its own, special place in small car history.”
“The Focus is the first car to have been named ‘Car of the Year’ in both Europe and the US, and most recently the all-new Focus was named ‘Car of the Year’ and ‘Best Compact Family Car’ by Auto Express magazine in the UK,” he added.
The all-new Focus has a wider body, more room inside and extra luggage space. Middle East customers can also enjoy additional engineering refinements like the manual shift option of the Focus’ four-speed ‘Durashift’ automatic transmission. Power is generated from a 1.6-litre (119hp) or 2.0-litre (151hp) Duratec engine, and there is also the choice of a five-speed manual transmission.
Murad added: “The 2006 Focus is a product of Ford’s Global Shared Technologies initiative, and so combines the strengths of other great vehicles like the Focus C-MAX, the Volvo S40 and the
Mazda 3. Ford Motor Company demonstrates a tireless commitment to engineering excellence and affordability, and its valued dealer partners around the region are genuine leaders in service. This combination is already paving the way for new sales highs for the Focus in 2006 in the Middle East, and the rest of Ford’s extensive product portfolio.”
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 300,000 employees and 110 plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo.
Its automotive-related services include Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.fordvehicles.com.
Ford Motor Company’s history in the Middle East goes back more than 50 years. The company’s local importer-dealers operate more than 40 facilities in the GCC and directly employ more than 3,500 people, the majority of whom are Arab Nationals.
