Ford Plans to Build 27, 200 Focuses in Russia in 2004

MOSCOW, March 16, 2004; Reuters reported that Ford Motor Co plans to make 27,200 Focuses in Russia, up from 16,000 last year, Ford Russia President Henrik Nenzen said on Tuesday. Nenzen told an automotive conference that of all new car sales in Russia, the Focus's popularity was outpaced only by domestic models.

The company has said annual Focus output in Russia is expected to reach 35,000 by 2007 and the U.S. carmaker is aiming for 10 percent of the Russian car market by 2010.

Nenzen said Ford planned to sell 30,000 cars in Russia in 2004, import models included.

"It looks like we will do much better," he said.