Ford’s Focus is at the very heart of the company’s global product line up and when the time comes for a new one, you have to get it right, said Barb Samardzich, the Blue Oval’s chief operating officer in Europe.
“Since the Focus was first introduced in 1998 we have sold 12m units worldwide in 140 markets. It has been the best-selling nameplate in the world for the past two years and when people are asked about Ford, Focus is the first thing that comes to mind.
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“It is important for us to keep those traditional Focus customers as well as attract new ones. The C segment is the second largest sector in Europe accounting for 15% of all new vehicle sales.”
The updated Focus will take to European roads later this year and, like its predecessor will be sold in all global markets. It will be built at eight locations in Europe, Asia, North and South America.
Samardzich added: “We need such a large manufacturing footprint because of the sheer numbers we sell. Last year Ford sold 1.1m Focus models and of those 12m sold since launch, 7m have been in Europe.”
