(May 23, 2011) MOSCOW — A red, 1.8-liter five-door Ford Focus has become the 500,000th Ford Focus sold in Russia since the market introduction of the first-generation Focus in 1999.

The milestone Focus was sold to a customer in St. Petersburg, home of Ford's Russian assembly plant where the car was built.

“This milestone shows how far we have come in Russia in the past 12 years,” said Mark Ovenden, president and managing director, Ford of Russia. “We are very proud the Focus is the most popular foreign branded vehicle ever with Russian customers. And now as we prepare to introduce the all-new Focus, we expect the Focus to reach new heights in Russia.”

Ford sold just 47 Focus models in Russia in 1999, the year the vehicle was first sold in the market. Over time, the Focus has become very popular with Russian customers. Last year, Focus sales in Russia reached 67,040.

"It’s fitting that the 500,000th Ford Focus was sold right before the start of sales of the next-generation Ford Focus, which features a range of intelligent technologies previously found only in luxury cars,” Ovenden said. “The new Focus will once again redefine what Russian consumers can expect of a volume car."

The Ford Focus has played a leading role in the global C-segment for more than a decade across the globe. It is the only car awarded Car of the Year in both the United States and Europe, and has claimed well over 100 major awards since then.

Russian production of the Focus started in 2002 at the Vsevolozhsk Plant near St. Petersburg — the first foreign-owned auto production facility in the country.

The Ford Focus has set the standard for many Russians with regard to safety, quality and driving dynamics. The all-new Ford Focus, which goes on sale in Russia in June this year, is set to raise the benchmark yet again. It has just gone on sale in Europe and North-America, and is already showing strong customer demand.