Production of the new Ford Kuga, Ford of Europe’s first entry into the well-populated European crossover SUV market, began on Tuesday (26 February) in Saarlouis, Germany.
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The automaker plans to build around 45,000 units in Saarlouis this year – equivalent to about 10% of the plant’s annual production volume. Kuga sales begin progressively across all European markets a little later this year.
The Kuga is the fourth model to be launched at Saarlouis in the past year after the updated C-Max MPV, Focus and Focus ST. Saarlouis now manufactures three different model lines at the same time.
Kuga is being built only in Saarlouis for now and around 84% will be exported to 32 different countries. The five largest sales markets are Germany, Italy, Great Britain, France and Spain.
With 6,600 employees, the Saarlouis plant is the largest employer in the Saarland. A further 2,000 work at the adjacent supplier park.
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By GlobalDataMore than 11m vehicles have been produced at Saarlouis since the start of manufacturing there in January 1970. Ford Europe’s Escort (6.5m+), Capri, Fiesta and Orion (Escort sedan) were all built there. Focus production began in 1998.
Saarlouis made 392,413 vehicles last year and plans to build 425,000 vehicles in 2008.
