(December 9, 2010) SAARLOUIS, Germany — Volume production of the all-new Ford Focus, the first global Ford compact car, has begun at Ford's Saarlouis Assembly Plant in South-West Germany.

In North America, early production of the four-door and five-door models of the Ford Focus is already underway at Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant.

The all-new Ford Focus is a key part of the One Ford plan to leverage the company’s global assets. Following its unprecedented global development program, the all-new Focus will be produced on three continents and be offered for sale in over 120 markets worldwide

Saarlouis Assembly Plant in the Saarland region of Germany, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, will be the single-source for production of the all-new Focus in Western Europe, building all three body styles — four-door, five-door and wagon. Production of the high-performance ST model will be added in early 2012.

Focus manufacturing will be expanded further in mid-2011 when Ford’s plant in St. Petersburg, Russia, begins building both four-door and five-door derivatives of the all-new model.

Production in the Asia Pacific region will begin in 2012, when new Ford plants come on-line in Chongqing, China and Rayong, Thailand.

"This is an important day for Ford, the Saarland and for Germany," said Ken Macfarlane, vice-president of Manufacturing, Ford of Europe. "Saarlouis is proud to have been the lead plant for Ford Focus production in Europe since the first model was launched in 1998. Throughout that time, its skilled and dedicated workforce has worked hard to ensure that the plant is recognized throughout the industry for its manufacturing efficiency and quality."