MANILA, Philippines - Ford Motor Co. Philippines (FMCP) said yesterday that the company’s $450 million investment for the Ford Focus manufacturing plant in Thailand will have no impact in the operations of their existing Ford Focus manufacturing facility in the Philippines.
“This announcement will have no impact on the current Ford Focus program, or the manufacturing operations of FMCP,” Ford said in its statement.
Aside from the Focus, the Sta. Rosa plant produces Mazda 3 and Escape. Earlier, Ford said they exported 7,200 units last year. The total capacity of the plant is 35,000 units per year but for this year they expect to produce 15,000 units. FMCP has exported more than 65,000 units of Ford Focus, Ford Escape and Mazda 3 for the ASEAN markets since 2002. The Focus assembled in Laguna are sold in Indonesia and Malaysia.
“We are currently studying new product program opportunities for the Philippines, and will remain focused on delivering our world class Ford and Mazda vehicles and services to our customers in the Philippines and the export markets that we serve,” the company noted.
Ford explained that the expansion in Thailand is part of their investment and expansion strategy in Asia and the Pacific Region. The passenger vehicle manufacturing plant in Thailand will be completed in 2012 and will produce the next generation Ford Focus. These cars will be distributed in Thailand and other markets in the Asia Pacific Region.
The next generation Ford Focus was unveiled during the North American International Motor Show in Detriot early this year.
Earlier, Ford Philippines said sales will grow by 20 percent. The growth is anchored by the strong economy coupled by the introduction of new lines. This year, Ford will be launching this first B Sedan the Fiesta. It will compete directly with Honda’s City and Jazz and the Toyota Vios. The three variants control 90 percent of the market.
First quarter performance grew by 20 percent to 1,926 units when compared to the same period a year ago. FGP’s strong first quarter was supported by Ford vehicles sales that increased 14 percent from the same period last year and Mazda sales that were up 38 percent year-over-year.