Ford Strengthens Presence In Russian
Market With New Model Debuts At Moscow Motor Show
Ford Focus Coupe-Cabriolet
Ford
adds to Russia product line-up with S-MAX, new Galaxy, Focus
Coupé -Cabriolet
Ford
sees Russia sales doubling in 2006 to 120,000 units
July
2006 best-ever sales month for Ford in Russia - 12,038 vehicles
sold
MOSCOW, Russia - Ford Motor
Company, which is on pace to double sales in Russia this
year, today premiered several new vehicles for Russian customers
that will further solidify Ford's leadership in that country's
fast-growing automobile market.
On display at the Moscow Motor
Show 2006, the international automobile exhibition that
opens to the press today, are five new vehicles from Ford's
growing range of new products that deliver style, flexibility
and excellent driving dynamics.
.
All-new S-MAX
These include:
All-new S-MAX , Ford's first
vehicle to feature the new language of kinetic design. S-MAX went
on sale in Russia in July.
New Ford-built Galaxy , which adds style
and innovation to the full-sized MPV market. Ford presents the Galaxy
in Russia for the first time. Galaxy will go on sale there in September.
The four-seat Focus Coupé-Cabriolet that
features a two-piece retractable hard-top. Seen in Russia for the first
time, the Focus Coupé -Cabriolet will go on sale next year.
New Transit , offering major upgrades
to Europe 's top-selling commercial vehicles. New Transit is being presented
to Russian consumers for the first time at the Moscow Motor Show on
the company's stand devoted to its commercial vehicles.
The Ford car stand features the European
premiere of the new U.S.-made Ford Explorer . The popular off-road vehicle
goes to dealers this year.
Galaxy
"The Moscow Motor Show is a perfect
place to showcase Ford's tremendous success in Russia ," said John
Fleming, CEO, Ford of Europe, who attended the Moscow Motor Show.
"Our industry-pioneering plant in St. Petersburg has built more
than 100,000 new Ford Focus cars since it opened in 2002. This year,
we fully expect sales of all Ford brand cars and commercial vehicles
to double to around 120,000 units.
The great products which we plan to introduce
in Russia in 2007 and beyond will build on this exciting momentum."
At the Moscow Motor Show, Ford presents for
the first time in Russia the iosis concept car. Iosis is the inspiration
for kinetic design, the Ford brand's fresh approach to design that expresses
energy in motion. S-MAX and the new Galaxy are the first production vehicles
to feature elements of kinetic design, which has received industry accolades
for its bold, innovative approach.
With the Focus Coupé -Cabriolet, Russian customers
are also seeing an all-new member of the Ford Focus family -- and the first
Ford of Europe automobile to be equipped with a two-piece retractable hard
top. The two-section hard top operates at the touch of a button.
The four-seat convertible coupe, designed
jointly with groups of designers and engineers of the Pininfarina S.p.A.,
combines the emotional attraction of a convertible car with driving qualities
of Ford PrecisionDrive, which have already been appreciated by customers
of other Ford Focus models. The Focus Coupé -Cabriolet joins the Focus ST
at the top of the Ford Focus family range.
The new vehicles are being launched in Russia
under the "Feel the difference" brand strategy, which is being introduced
across Europe . "Feel the difference" is a comprehensive brand approach
that defines Fords appeal of emotion, dependability and reliability.
"The breadth of vehicles on display at the
Ford stand demonstrates how serious we are about fulfilling our ambitious
growth plans for Russia , " said Henrik Nenzen, President of Ford in Russia
.
"To support our customers all over Russia
, Ford actively develops its dealer network. As of August, we have 113 dealers
and sub-dealers, offering all kinds of activities -- sales only, service
only, as well as sales and service. In addition, we have four commercial
vehicle specialists and three dealers in Belarus . Our financial programs
on retail credit and operation leasing are also now available," Nenzen said.
