After five generations and three decades of continuous production, Ford finished assembling the last Mondeo on April 4 at its Valencia facility. Ford Focus will be completely phased out in 2025, according to the American automaker.
The information was released along with Ford's declaration that it will stop making cars at its Saarlouis, Germany, plant, which presently manufactures the Focus. Ford's Valencia plant in Spain won the competition to build its upcoming line of electric vehicles, beating out Saarlouis.
Stuart Rowley, the president of Ford of Europe, acknowledged the Focus' impending extinction in a press conference today.
Stuart Rowley, the chairman of Ford of Europe, stated that Ford was looking into "other opportunities" for the facility, such as selling it to another automaker. It is obvious that this will result in job losses in Germany, while it is possible that some employees may be moved to Ford's other German facility in Cologne.
However, the Mondeo and Focus are also produced there for the domestic market. In actuality, the midsize model recently switched to a new generation, ensuring its continued availability in the People's Republic. The smaller car had a nip and tuck, indicating it's also staying put.
The global Focus has been severely impacted by supply issues in the interim, leading to wait times that exceed 12 months. One of the biggest issues is the SYNC4 infotainment system, which was produced in war-torn Ukraine and results in significant delays.
At the Saarlouis, where Ford employs 4,600 people, Stuart Rowley said there will be "substantial" job layoffs. Despite being awarded the contract to build Ford's upcoming electric vehicles, Ford has warned Valencia that it should also prepare for a decline in headcount. The Spanish plant that produces the Transit Connect, S-Max, and Galaxy minivans, together with the Kuga crossover, employs over 6,000 workers.