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Combining the best of German engineering and European styling with exemplary
driving dynamics, the new Focus will go on sale in Australia during 2005.
"Sourcing the new Focus from our regional partners has allowed us to be near
the front of the queue to receive this exciting new model," said Ford Australia
President, Tom Gorman.
"Ford South Africa has worked very closely with the global Focus development
team and has demonstrated its ability to consistently achieve the stringent
quality, cost and delivery targets established by the well recognised European
Focus team.
"Since its European launch in 1998, the current Focus has been one of the
most successful products in Ford's 100 year history. It has consistently ranked
amongst the world's best-selling cars and has won Car of the Year Awards in both
Europe and North America.
"The new Focus will deliver even more - providing improvements in power,
quality, craftsmanship, packaging and refinement," said Gorman.
Sourcing from South Africa is part of a manufacturing strategy that reflects
Ford's commitment to the Asia-Pacific region.
The Asia-Pacific and Africa region is projected to contribute 65% of global
auto industry growth through to the end of the decade, of which 80% of all
growth in the region will come from China, ASEAN and India.
"With volumes approaching the markets of North America and Western Europe,
Ford's Asia Pacific and Africa regions are now being treated as a single entity
and will benefit from the installation of the latest plant technology and
economies of scale in manufacturing," said Ford Motor Company Vice President of
Ford Asia Pacific and Africa, Mark Schulz.
"This is an important first step in creating a model for future growth and
investment.
"Over the next 10 years there will be an additional 9 million units that are
there for the taking. Ford intends to go after our fair share. We are confident
that the new Focus will help us achieve our ambitious targets, within the core
mid-size passenger car segment. The new Focus is the most sophisticated Focus
ever and will go on sale throughout the region over the coming year."
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