Ford Fiesta 3-Door Production Starts

Ford Fiesta

Photo: Ford

Production of the 3-door Ford Fiesta began at Ford's assembly plant in Cologne, Germany. The new model starts to go on sale next month in the major European markets. Ford plans to manufacture some 36,000 new 3-door Fiestas this year. The total annual vehicle production capacity of Ford's Cologne plant, which also manufactures the 5-door Fiesta and the Ford Fusion, is 405,000 units.

"When production of the new Ford Fiesta began in November 2001, it marked the start of a new manufacturing era at Ford", said John Fleming, vice president Manufacturing, Ford of Europe. "After its complete redevelopment Ford's Cologne plant has become a template for modern and flexible car manufacturing in Europe."

"With the new 3-door Fiesta now sharing the same assembly line with the 5-door model and the Ford Fusion, the sequence and the production quantity of different vehicles within Ford's new small car family are now completely variable, ensuring that we can respond to changes in customer demand" he said.

Ford and its suppliers have invested more than $600 million in modernizing car production in Cologne. Parts and components are delivered by the twelve suppliers located in the industrial park not simply "just in time" , but also "in sequence". An 800-metre long conveyor delivers these to the Ford production line precisely as they are needed and in just the right order.

(October 7, 2002)