We’ve known for some time that production of the Ford Focus is set to end at the Saarlouis Assembly plant in Germany in 2025, even though FoMoCo is still having a hard time finding a buyer for that facility. Regardless, Ford will continue to operate the Saarlouis plant for years to come following an agreement with the German union IG Metall, though it will also lay off most of the workforce there as well. However, we didn’t know exactly when Ford Focus production was slated to end – at least, until now.
According to Automotive News Europe, Ford Focus production at the Saarlouis plant is currently scheduled to end in November 2025, after which around 1,000 of the 4,500 workers there will remain on board to “provide services for other Ford locations,” according to the automaker. Even as the European Union is considering softening its zero-emissions mandate and Ford Europe recently pushed back its own EV transition plans, Ford Focus production won’t be extended, though the Saarlouis plant will remain in operation at least through 2032, per FoMoCo’s agreement with IG Metall.
Rather than transitioning its entire passenger vehicle lineup in Europe to EVs by 2030 or sooner, The Blue Oval is now targeting 2035, though that is also a loose goal that is largely dependent on consumer demand. In the meantime, the automaker plans to continue to sell traditional ICE and hybrid models along with EVs.
Ford’s European EV plans also remain in a bit of a flux at the moment, at least beyond the all-new Ford Explorer EV and another, as-yet-unveiled all-electric crossover riding on Volkswagen’s MEB platform. Recently, the automaker has revealed that it could continue to make and sell small cars in that region, and may also wind up using its own low-cost platform to underpin future EVs as well.
We’ll have more on the Ford Focus soon, so subscribe to Ford Authority for the latest Ford Focus news, and for comprehensive Ford news coverage.
Comments
Another reason not to buy Ford. Not everybody like SUV´s or crossovres or is willing to buy one no matter what.
Another screw up by Ford, getting rid of a good vehicle.
Totally agree Ron. The Focus, Fusion and Taurus were excellent vehicles. It’s a shame the foreign car companies can make a car profitably and Ford Motor can’t.
Well, on the good news side, I’m told by my specialty insurance company, that once production ceases on the Focus ST, in a couple of years it’ll be eligible for specialty insurance as their predicting that it’ll become a collector vehicle. Guess I’ll hang onto mine!