The wildly popular Ford Focus achieves a new record as Ford’s Russian plant in Vsevolozhsk, near St. Petersburg produces the 400,000th unit.

The Focus has been the best-selling car in Russia manufactured in the country by a non-domestic manufacturer for the past seven years. That record belongs to the now previous generation Focus, as it’s being replaced by the all-new 2012 model in Europe and America. They also begin making the new generation later this year. The Current Ford Focus is produced in Russia in all three body styles: five-door, four-door and wagon.

The amazing performance of the car in sales in other parts f the world apart form Europe and America is the biggest advantage for it to post incredible cumulative sales figures. If it wasn’t for markets like Russia or China, or more recently Thailand, car makers would struggle with those numbers!

Ford was the first foreign manufacturer to start vehicle production in Russia. More than 2,700 employees current work at the Vsevolozhsk plant.  Each day, the plant produces about 300 cars in two shifts.  Total Focus output at the plant last year was 70,000 units.

“Ford changed the Russian perception of cars when it started producing Ford Focus in 2002,” said Mark Ovenden, president and managing director, Ford Russia.  “The Focus proved that a volume-produced car could be safe and affordable with attractive design and high quality.”

Gray Greenway, general director of Ford’s St. Petersburg plant, said: “We have a phenomenal team at our plant, and it has been building the Focus with high quality since it was launched in 2002.  The customer expects nothing less from a new car, and the team is delivering. “The Focus represents the dream car for many Russians. It’s safe, with best-in-class cost of ownership, and is available in a range of models.”