Ford Focus useless after 27 years as manufacturing ends at European manufacturing facility

The Ford Focus has exited manufacturing after 27 years, because the American model continues to reshape and electrify its European lineup and alter its manufacturing footprint.

As reported by Autocar, the enduring nameplate’s finish was publicised by Ford staff on social media and by German broadcaster Saarländischer Rundfunk as the ultimate instance rolled off the manufacturing line.

The demise of the Focus – which had primarily been constructed at Ford’s plant at Saarlouis, Germany because the fourth and closing era mannequin entered manufacturing in 2018 – was confirmed in 2022, when Ford introduced a shift to lean on its American heritage and deal with higher-margin SUV choices in Europe.

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Three years later, manufacturing for the Focus has ended, which means the Saarlouis plant now not produces any vehicles. That leaves the plant’s future up within the air, with Ford shifting next-generation automobile manufacturing to Valencia, Spain, and no purchaser having been locked in.

Ford’s European SUV shift has already been put in movement. The favored Fiesta was discontinued in 2023, forcing patrons to step as much as a pricier Puma (or defect to a different model).

The favored Kuga, offered right here much less efficiently because the Escape, was joined by the electrical Explorer and its controversial Capri sibling in 2024. Each of those are in-built Cologne, Germany and are primarily based on Volkswagen’s MEB devoted electrical automobile (EV) platform, however neither have proved to be sturdy sellers.

Ford additionally sells the bigger Mustang Mach-E in Europe, and it’s reportedly planning a brand new mid-size SUV that can fill the hole left by the Focus.