Ford Focus Milestones

1998

Focus makes its global debut at the Geneva Motor Show.

Focus production begins at Germany’s Saarlouis Assembly Plant (August).

1999

By March, 100,000 had been sold in Europe alone, with 200,000 orders waiting.

North American Focus production begins in Michigan and in Mexico.

Ford Focus WRC replaces Escort model in the World Rally Championship.

2000

Focus introduced in North American markets, wins “North American Car of the Year”.

2001

Focus production begins in Taiwan.

Focus becomes first flex-fuel European product – capable of running on E85

Focus becomes the world’s best-selling car at year’s end with 917,000 sales

Production begins at Saarlouis for export models for Australia.

2002

Introduction of first performance models, in North America as an SVT model and in Europe as the Focus ST170. First Focus RS model is also introduced in Europe.

Russian production of the Focus begins at the Vsevolozhsk plant near St. Petersburg

2003

Premiere of Focus C-MAX at Geneva Motor Show.

Focus begins seven-year run as best-selling foreign vehicle in Russia.

2004

2-millionth Focus produced in Saarlouis (February).

1-millionth Valencia (Spain) Assembly Plant-built Focus produced.

Production begins of second-generation Ford Focus in Saarlouis.

Focus production begins in the Philippines.

2005

Focus becomes the first E20-capable passenger car in Thailand.

North American Focus receives fresh exterior, new interior – first major redesign.

Focus four-door production begins in China.

Focus ST production kickoff in Europe (October).

Focus production begins in South Africa.

2006

Focus five-door production begins in China.

Focus Coupe-Cabriolet introduced in Europe, engineered with Pininfarina.

4-millionth Focus built in Saarlouis.

All North American Focus production consolidated at Wayne Assembly Plant, Michigan.

Ford Vsevolozhsk plant produces 100,000th Russian-built Focus.

Focus wins FIA World Rally Championship manufacturer’s title for Ford.

2007

Last year for Focus hatchback and wagon in North American markets.

Focus receives five-star rating from China Automotive Technology and Research Center in C-NCAP testing, the highest rating to date for a C-car in China.

Focus wins China Circuit Championship.

Focus scores another World Rally Championship manufacturer’s title for Ford.

New Focus introduced in North America (October). Two models available: Sedan and, for the first time, a Focus Coupe. SYNC in-vehicle communications system launched.

2008

Major facelift of Focus in Europe, introducing kinetic design exterior and new interior.

Focus production in Ford’s Asia-Pacific and Africa region nears half-million point with assembly in the Philippines, South Africa, Vietnam and China.

2009

Valencia produces its 2-millionth Focus (January).

Focus production in China hits 400,000.

Production of a new limited-edition Focus RS – the highest-performance road-going Focus ever – begins in Europe.

Russian production of Focus reaches 300,000 units (June).

Ford’s first European passenger battery car, a prototype Focus BEV, is displayed at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

New Ford Focus ECOnetic debuts, the first Ford of Europe production model with Auto-Start-Stop, Smart Regenerative Charging, Ford Eco Mode and Low Tension FEAD.

2010

World preview of the third-generation Focus at the North American International Auto Show (January).

See also:

The new, third-generation Ford Focus - MyFord - Powertrain - Production.