Ford’s St Petersburg factory restarted production today (13 July) after closing for two weeks to reduce stock amid tumbling demand in Russia where new car sales are expected to reach 1.4m this year, about half their 2008 levels.

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It will then shut down again from 20 July to 9 August for the annual summer holidays. Ford says it plans two-shift production from 22 September and will then move to a four-day week from October to February. The plant assembles Focus and Mondeo cars.

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