Η Ford ανακοίνωσε ότι κατασκεύασε 350 εκατ. αυτοκίνητα μέσα σε 109 χρόνια ιστορίας της. Το επετειακό μοντέλο ήταν ένα Ford Focus, το οποίο σύμφωνα με την Ford είναι το αυτοκίνητο το οποίο έχει πουλήσει περισσότερο σε όλο τον κόσμο μέσα τους πρώτους έξι μήνες του 2012. Από την αρχή του έτους έχουν πουληθεί 522.821 αυτοκίνητα σε όλο τον κόσμο.
Το Focus κατασκευάστηκε στο νέο εργοστάσιο της Ford στη πόλη Rayong της Ταιλάνδης, στο οποίο η Ford επένδυσε 450 εκατ. δολάρια., με την λειτουργία του να έχει ξεκινήσει από τον περασμένο Μάιο. Η Ford μας λέει ότι κάθε ημέρα κατασκευάζει 8.797 αυτοκίνητα, 367 αυτοκίνητα την ώρα, ή νέο αυτοκίνητο κάθε 10 δευτερόλεπτα.
[Πηγή: Ford]
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NEW FORD FOCUS IS BEST-SELLING CAR NAMEPLATE IN THE WORLD IN FIRST HALF OF 2012
- Ford Focus is best-selling single car nameplate; 489,616 units sold worldwide over the first six months of the year
- A new Focus today becomes the 350 millionth Ford vehicle to roll off the production line
COLOGNE, Germany, 03 September, 2012– Ford Focus is the world’s best-selling single car nameplate in 2012, having outsold every other model of car in the first six months of the year.
Focus became the best-selling single car nameplate in the world, based on global data from IHS Automotive. According to IHS Automotive, the Ford Focus sold 489,616 units in the first half of this year. The nearest competitor, Toyota Corolla, sold 462,187*.
The Focus also plays a key role in delivering a major Ford milestone today as a model produced at Rayong, Thailand, becomes the 350 millionth vehicle the company has produced in its history.
“Consider, for a moment, the enormity of 350 million vehicles,” said John Fleming, Ford executive vice president of Global Manufacturing. “It’s equivalent to producing one vehicle every 10 seconds for 109 years; and, if placed end to end, would stretch to the moon and back – twice.”
The Ford Focus first appeared in Europe in 1998 and won the 1999 “Car of the Year” award. The current, third generation of the mid-size car – launched last year – was designed on an unprecedented global scale, helping to make more technologies and features economically viable than ever before for cars in this segment.
Key innovations in the new Focus include Active City Stop low-speed safety system, Active Park Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Aid, Traffic Sign Recognition, Auto High Beam, Driver Alert and Adaptive Cruise Control.
In Europe the new Focus is available in 5-door, 4-door and wagon versions. This year, Ford launched 250PS Focus ST, Ford’s first global performance car, and in Europe began offering the Focus with the new 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine, which was named the 2012 “International Engine of the Year” in June. A zero emissions Focus Electric, Ford’s first ever all-electric passenger car, will be available in 2013.
- Ford Focus is best-selling car model in the world for the first half of 2012
- New Focus built today in Thailand marks milestone as 350 millionth vehicle produced in Ford Motor Company’s 109-year history
- Customers around the world are benefiting from One Ford plan, which is creating the industry’s freshest lineup with a full family of vehicles offering leading quality, fuel efficiency, safety, smart design and value
RAYONG, Thailand, Aug. 31, 2012 – Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) today celebrates the company’s 350 millionth vehicle – a Ford Focus, which is the world’s best-selling car for the first half of 2012.
Ford is celebrating the production milestone at its newest global manufacturing facility located in Rayong, Thailand, approximately 200 kilometers (120 miles) southeast of Bangkok. Ford Thailand Manufacturing (FTM) plant is a $450 million facility, opened in May to produce the new Focus, which also is built in four other countries. FTM represents the latest in Ford’s global manufacturing capabilities, with new stamping presses, flexible body shops and robotic capabilities that enable it to produce up to six different vehicles simultaneously.
“Producing 350 million vehicles is equivalent to producing one vehicle every 10 seconds for our 109-year history. If placed end to end, the vehicles would stretch to the moon and back – twice,” said John Fleming, Ford executive vice president of global manufacturing. “Producing this vehicle in Thailand also is significant. It underscores the power of our One Ford plan to deliver profitable growth with great products built in ultra-flexible and efficient facilities everywhere around the world.”
In addition to the manufacturing milestone, for the first six months of this year, Focus became the best-selling single car nameplate in the world, based on global data from IHS Automotive.
According to IHS Automotive, the Ford Focus sold 489,616 units in the first half of this year. The nearest competitor, Toyota Corolla, sold 462,187.
“Embracing its performance, value, versatility and fuel economy, the Focus is attracting many new customers to the Ford brand for the very first time, particularly in Asia where we are growing every day,” said Jim Farley, Ford’s group vice president for global marketing, sales and service. “The Focus is a winner on so many levels because it successfully provides customers with what they want most – a safe, smart, fuel-efficient, good-looking, fun-to-drive, affordable car.”
From Henry Ford to One Ford
Since the company was founded in 1903, Ford has led the industry with innovations such as the Model T, which helped foster the world’s love for affordable mobility. In its first half century as a company, Ford grew alongside the driving public, producing its 50 millionth vehicle – a 1959 Ford Galaxie – in slightly more than 50 years and generating legions of loyal Ford owners along the way.
In the five decades since, Ford has produced more than 300 million additional vehicles.
“Today, in the spirit of Henry Ford’s innovative drive, the One Ford plan is transforming modern-day Ford to compete everywhere in the world with a full family of global vehicles that offer leading quality, fuel efficiency, safety, smart design and value,” said Fleming.
As part of the One Ford plan, the company also is executing a One Manufacturing plan for lean, flexible production. It includes standardizing best practices, increasing production in growing markets and accelerating new vehicle introductions on fewer global platforms, which delivers the vehicles consumers want with quality, efficiency and profitability afforded by global scale.
By next year, Ford will build more than 85 percent of vehicle volume off nine core platforms. Also, in the next four years, Ford plans to have the freshest global vehicle lineup – with the entire product portfolio expected to be upgraded at least one time.
Asia Pacific leads the way
Asia Pacific is leading the way for growth as part of Ford’s One Ford plan to serve customers in all markets.
With $6.7 billion invested in the region since 2006, Ford is investing heavily and expanding aggressively to meet the needs of consumers here, who are expected to generate 60 percent of the industry’s future growth through 2020. Ford’s key investments and growth initiatives in Asia Pacific Africa include:
- Launching nine new plants – six in China, two in India and one in Thailand – with the capacity to produce 2.9 million vehicles by mid-decade
- Bringing more than 50 new vehicles and powertrains to market by mid-decade, including 15 vehicles to China by 2015, eight vehicles to India by 2015, eight vehicles to ASEAN and four vehicles to Taiwan
- Having 95 percent of the region’s volume on global platforms by mid-decade
Doubling the number of dealerships in the region by mid-decade
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