Ford will continue revising output plans at its Russian plant because of the unfavourable market situation, a senior executive has said.
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Nigel Brackenbury, president of Ford’s Russian subsidiary, speaking at a news conference, did not elaborate on the specific measures Ford might take.
The Ford St Petersburg plant – which produces Focus and Mondeo models – has reached an annual output of 125,000 cars, Brackenbury said.
Russia’s total sales of new cars are expected to amount to approximately 1.4 million in 2009, he said, according to Prime-Tass.
General Motors and Ford suspended production at their respective plants in Russia on 1 July.
GM suspended production at its plant in St. Petersburg until 31 August while Ford halted output in Vsevolozhsk, in the Leningrad region until 9 July.
Both carmakers cited unfavourable market conditions, falling demand for cars, and a decline in Russian citizens’ purchasing power as reasons for the suspension.
Ford’s Russian plant also plans to suspend production from July 20 through August 9 in connection with corporate summer holidays, a plant spokesman earlier told Prime-Tass.
Russian car sales shrank 56% year on year in June.
