The car has long become an integral part of our lives - so integral that a modern person cannot imagine a world without cars. Today they surround us everywhere, but just a little over a hundred years ago a car was such a rarity that only a select few could afford to own one. After all, they were assembled entirely by hand back then. But thanks to one man who revolutionized the automobile industry, everything changed. This man's name was Henry Ford. The company he founded was the first in the world to use an assembly line, starting mass production of cars. For modern Russia Ford became the first foreign company to open an assembly plant in our country. So how is Ford assembled in Russia today?
2. The Ford Sollers plant in Vsevolozhsk was founded in 2002 and became the first full-cycle automotive enterprise opened by a foreign company in Russia. The Russian Diesel plant was chosen to organize production. This fact made it possible to avoid the costs of building buildings, but imposed significant restrictions on production space. Ford technologists had to think hard before writing technological process within such a strict framework. But they did it. For this reason, the Ford plant in Vsevolozhsk became a unique project, since, despite its relatively small size, it immediately became a full-cycle enterprise, and not just an assembly shop. On an area of 26 hectares there are welding, painting and assembly shops, warehouses, a platform for finished products and even a test track. Until 2011, the Vsevolozhsk plant was the only Ford plant in Europe that produced Ford Focus cars in all four body modifications: station wagon, sedan, five-door and three-door hatchback of the first and second generations.
3. The life of every new car at this Ford plant begins from scratch - from a set of parts, fasteners, seals and plastics. This process takes about 14 hours and the first thing the future Ford has to go through is the welding shop. Here, in the confident hands of welders and sheaves of sparks from stamped parts, the first body elements are born.
4. Primary welding is done manually using high-tech semi-automatic welding machines, more like some kind of fantastic weapon than a conventional welding machine.
5. The technology is clearly distributed. Some weld only the right rear door, some the side panel, some the hood. The movements of the welders are so precise that their work is more like a dance, so easily do they handle the huge welding machine, suspended on a special hinged frame that balances its weight and allows for extreme welding precision. It is not unimportant that the welding machines are robotic. The person just brings it to the welding site. The welding power and duration are programmed.
6. The result of the work of each section of the welding shop is ready-made elements of the future body. For example, side panels that are sent to another site for further welding.
7. At this stage, robots come into play. Six four-armed welding robots work simultaneously at the plant.
8. These smart and high-precision machines assemble the body of a new Ford from individual elements. It takes them a few minutes to do everything, during which the body is boiled from all sides, turning over several times like a feather in the hydraulic hands of the robot. It looks like a scene from a science fiction movie, but it is reality - machines create machines.
9. All body parts come already galvanized. Therefore, an assembled but not yet painted Ford already looks attractive, glistening with silvery edges. After robotic welders, the conveyor delivers the bodies back to the person.
10. Here, thresholds are boiled on two parallel lines and then the baton is passed back to the robots. So, as a result of the joint work of people and machines, the body of the new Ford Focus and Ford Mondeo is created.
11. Before continuing on their way, the assembled bodies are sent for geometry testing at a special Carl Zeiss stand. Tolerance from the norm - tenths of a millimeter. Every third assembled body is checked. Vehicles that do not pass inspection are mercilessly rejected, but such cases are extremely rare.
12. The bodies that have successfully passed the inspection are sent to the primary assembly line. Here they grow on the hood, trunk lid, fenders and, of course, doors. This does not happen immediately, but gradually as it moves along the conveyor. For example, in this area the rear left door will be installed, and a little later the front right door, and then the left wing, and so on.
13. Thanks to this approach, the assembler does not disperse himself into several types of work, but performs only one operation, bringing the accuracy and efficiency of his actions to perfection. Personnel rotation occurs periodically to avoid employees getting stuck in only one type of work.
14. The body assembled on the primary conveyor is sent to the paint shop, access to which is strictly prohibited to any unauthorized persons, in order to avoid even the slightest ingress of dust. Painting takes several hours, after which the Ford assembly continues on the next assembly line, where in 2 hours 42 minutes it will take the form of a finished car from a painted piece of iron.
15. At the initial stage, the doors are removed from the painted body. They will join it again after installing window lift mechanisms, glass and door locks themselves, sound insulation, upholstery and other elements depending on the configuration.
16. While this is happening, the body itself is overgrown with sound insulation, seals, electrical wiring lines, airbags, pedal unit, brake pipes, and air conditioning. In order for the assembly worker to know what parts he needs to install on a particular car, a manifest is attached to the body - a special document about the vehicle’s configuration.
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18. The further the car moves along the conveyor, the more it takes on the appearance of a finished product. It is important to note that if, during the assembly process, something suddenly went wrong, for example, a worker dropped a fastening bolt into the internal cavity of the car, then he must immediately inform the shift supervisor about this and make a note in the appropriate document. Depending on the situation, the car is either immediately removed from the line, or the deficiency is corrected later. In particular, attempts will be made to shake out the fallen bolt and somehow remove it. In any case, a car with a jingling foreign object in the body cavity will not end up in the hands of the end consumer.
19. Each new section adds new parts to the car. This is how the future Ford will have a radiator grille, headliner, dashboard, controls, etc. Here, along with people, another robot works - a glass installer. It is used for greater accuracy in applying the adhesive composition and completely eliminating leaks during operation. The list of installed parts is huge and reaches several hundred, if not thousands, positions. While using the car, its owner is not even aware of how much work was done to create it.
20. Next, the car moves to the so-called “chassis” line, where the engine and transmission are installed on it. A “marriage” or “wedding” is taking place - this is what assemblers call the moment of connection between the transmission and the body.
22. Here the fully assembled doors are returned to it, seats and other final elements are installed.
23. The fully finished car arrives at the control post. Here the quality of the assembly is checked, the joints, the quality of the paint and varnish coating are inspected, the operation of electronic systems and lighting devices is checked.
24. There are surprisingly many women working at the factory. Thanks to the reduction in the labor intensity of production processes, all types of work have become accessible to the fair sex. They work equally with men in all areas, with the exception of the welding shop.
25. The final step is filling process fluids. This occurs at the same control post after completion of all verification actions. However, car checks do not end there; rather, on the contrary, they are just beginning.
26. Having reached this stage, the assembled Ford can already move under its own power and is placed at the disposal of an employee who will check it in motion. Here, every few minutes you can hear the horn - a safety requirement. Before starting to drive, the test driver must honk the horn and only then start driving.
27. The first test bench for the assembled car is called "Niagara". Here the tightness of all seals and the quality of glass gluing are checked. Looks like an automatic car wash high pressure, only the pressure here is much more powerful and the spray system is an order of magnitude more complex. Water is supplied from different sides and from different angles.
28. Before leaving the factory premises, cars undergo dynamic tests on a roll test, where the car is accelerated on rollers up to 110 km/h to check the operation of the engine and gearbox. The next stage is the test track. Its purpose is to identify extraneous noise associated with assembly defects. The track is a section of the path, 200 meters long various types coatings imitating different variants which a vehicle may encounter during operation, for example, paving stones, wooden posts, multi-level concrete plates And so on. Moreover, according to different types the coating must move at a strictly defined speed.
29. It is noteworthy that many women work here too.
30. Another control point is a vibration-temperature stand. This is a special chamber in which a car can be frozen to extremely low temperatures, simulating weather northern region. At the same time, the hydraulic installation, which consists of four independent vibration columns, allows you to thoroughly shake the car. Cars are submitted for such testing selectively or at the request of a tester who did not like something as a result of testing on the track.
31. Upon completion of all tests and inspections, the end consumer receives a car with the famous Ford quality. In 2015, the Vsevolozhsk Ford Sollers plant began producing two models at once: the new generation Ford Mondeo and Ford Focus 4. It’s worth telling more about the latter Ford Focus. Since its first appearance, the Ford Focus has been a bestseller in its class on the Russian market for seven years in a row. He was called up many times the best car year, winning 18 awards in Russia. Over the 13 years of the model’s history in Russia, it has collected over 700,000 grateful customers.
The fourth generation Ford Focus has absorbed the best of previous generations, including the traditional reliability inherent in cars of this brand. This is a dynamic and comfortable car, which is equipped with new and improved technologies, a new engine, and is also specially adapted for Russian market. How else? After all, it is going to Russia and for Russia. It is for this reason that the Russian Ford Focus has the following features:
- engines are certified for AI-92;
- additional sound insulation;
- increased ground clearance;
- winter package;
- multimedia system with control in Russian;
- testing for Russian roads, including winter test.
The fourth Ford Focus is equipped with a number of technical innovations:
- SYNC 2 multimedia system with voice control in Russian, navigation and traffic jam indicator in more than 50 cities of the Russian Federation
- advanced parking assistance system Active Park Assist with the function of parallel and perpendicular parking, assistance when leaving the parking lot and monitoring the space around the car at 360º;
- automatic low/high beam switching system;
- adaptive bi-xenon headlights;
- Rear View Camera;
- Ford MyKey® - the owner can program individual keys with the necessary settings;
- Ford EcoMode ® - helps the driver change his driving style to reduce fuel consumption and emissions;
- Ford PowerShift ® - preselective automatic transmission;
- Hill Launch Assist;
- tire pressure monitoring system.
And all this is inside a modest, but very stylish and attractive car, which is assembled for Russians at a Russian plant by Russian citizens.
32. The new product is equipped with a completely new modern EcoBoost engine, providing excellent dynamics, low fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
33. But, of course, the Vsevolozhsk Ford Sollers plant is, first of all, people. In order for the new Ford Focus and Mondeo to continuously roll off the assembly line, 1,500 employees work daily in the plant’s workshops, whose professionalism and responsibility directly determine the quality of the cars produced, the positive emotions of their future owners, including road safety.
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Each of us would like to work as close to home as possible, so as not to waste precious hours on the road. Sometimes we manage to find a convenient vacancy, and sometimes, in pursuit of decent pay, we even have to move. But Henry Ford was not one of those people. He built his entire colossal empire not far from the place where he was born and never lived anywhere else.
Known fact that Henry Ford was born into a farmer's family in a village called Greenfield, near Detroit, where he spent his childhood. But, fortunately, his work on the farm did not work out, so he went to work in Detroit. He chose the town of Dearborn to live. In 1915, the Fairlane estate was built for him. In 1917, construction began on the largest automobile plant in the world, and in 1956, with the completion of the Ford Motor Company headquarters, Dearborn became the corporation's permanent home. Let's go to a small virtual trip in the hometown of one of the most valuable companies in the world.
By the way, it should be noted that the first settlement on the site of Dearborn was founded by the French colonialist Antoine Lome de Lamothe de Cadillac, in whose honor the Cadillac automobile brand was later named.
The central building and symbol of the city was not the city hall or the church, but the Ford headquarters, which immediately after construction was called the “glass house.” By today's standards, the building is not the most impressive, however, in 1956, the 12-story glass and concrete building covered more than 88 thousand square meters. square meters and designed for 3,000 employees looked very impressive. The company that designed it even received two prestigious awards for its work. The complex also includes two extensions: a cafe and banqueting hall, plus a huge garage for 1,500 cars.
To various significant events, at night, the lights in the building are turned on in such a way as to convey some kind of message. For example, on September 15, 2008, the Ford team congratulated its main competitors by displaying “Happy 100 GM” on the facade; 50 years ago, they announced the victory of the Ford GT at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the same way, and this year they celebrated the anniversary of this victory.
At the beginning of 2016, the company announced its plans to begin a complete reconstruction of the building in 2021 with the addition of existing as well as new administrative buildings.
The headquarters was built on land that once belonged to Henry Ford himself and was part of his Fair Lane estate, which today occupies about 530 hectares. The center of the estate is a luxurious house with 56 rooms, an area of 2900 square meters. The house, built in 1915, had a swimming pool and bowling alley.
The entire estate is supplied with electricity from its own power plant located on the Rouge River Dam, and the power of this power plant is also enough to power part of Dearborn. On the property there are also Henry Ford's workshop and garage, a playhouse for children, a staff house, a stable, a greenhouse, a greenhouse, and a boathouse for water transport.
In 1957, the estate was donated to the University of Michigan, and main house, the garage and the power plant are now museums. The line of American and Australian Ford produced the Fairlane car, named after the residence of the company's founder.
Nearby is another historically important place - the River Rouge plant, which at the time of its inception became the largest plant in the world with all production cycles - from ore processing to the exit of the finished product. Construction began in 1917 and was completed only in 1928. Everything is explained by the scale of the project - the boundaries of the complex, consisting of 93 buildings, stretch 1.6 kilometers along the Rouge River and 2.4 kilometers wide, about 160 kilometers railway tracks on the territory, its own power plant, its own pier. The grandiose complex was able to provide more than 100,000 jobs during the most difficult years for the United States in the 1930s - the years of the Great Depression. Dearborn's population increased by almost 2,000% during those years, from 5,000 people to 50,000.
The first finished product left the factory already in 1918, and not through the gates, but along the river, since it was a gunboat ordered by the US government to participate in the First World War. After the war, the plant switched to the production of tractors, as well as components for the Ford Model T, which underwent final assembly at another plant. In 1932 he began producing the legendary Model B with Flathead V8. Since 1964, four generations of the Ford Mustang have been produced here, and from 1948 to the present day, the iconic F-150 pickup truck has been produced here. The plant employs about 6,000 people, and there is a rule for employees: in the main parking lot you can only park a car manufactured by FoMoCo, otherwise you will have to walk from the far parking lot to the entrance. It's a shame, but fair!
In 1929 the plant visited Supreme Council National Economy of the USSR and was so impressed that he signed an agreement with Ford Motor Company to provide assistance in the construction of the same plant on the territory of the Union. In 1932, the first car, GAZ-AA, left the gates of the American-built production facility.
The scale of Henry Ford's figure is so enormous that almost everything in the city bears the name of the great industrialist: libraries, colleges, universities, theaters, there was even an airport named after Ford. Henry Ford loved his small homeland, and it is grateful to him to this day.
general information
Ford Motor Company is an American automobile company specializing in the production of Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln passenger cars, trucks, and various agricultural equipment. Ford owns Jaguar.
The headquarters is located in Dearborn (Michigan), not far from where Henry Ford's parents once farmed.
History of the corporation
The company was founded by Henry Ford in 1903 and, according to its creator, was immediately intended to produce a mass-produced cheap car. Initially this was the Model “A”, in 1908 - the Model “T”, dubbed “Tin Lizzie” by cartoonists. The success of the new model was so great that Ford's ever-expanding enterprises could not cope with orders. In the first year of production of this model, 10,660 cars were sold, which broke all records in the automotive industry at that time.
In 1913, Ford Motor, for the first time in the world, introduced a method of standardization of interchangeable parts of products and conveyor technology for assembling cars, which made it possible to increase labor productivity by 40-60% in just one year.
By mid-1914, 500 thousand Model Ts had been produced, and by 1923, every second car in America was made at Ford Motor factories.
In 1922, Ford Motor acquired the Lincoln Company, the management of which was entrusted to Edsel Ford. The elder Ford's authoritarian management style became a favorite target of the left-wing press, and Ford's refusal to tolerate unions at his plants sparked a campaign of harassment. At the same time, by the end of the 1920s, Americans were tired of the monotonous Model T. Competitors from General Motors are pushing ahead, Ford Motor is responding with the Ford A model, the popularity of which still lags behind Chevrolet and Buick.
The Great Depression of 1929 sharply reduces car sales. Wages are halved.
In 1932, mass production of V-shaped 8-cylinder engines began. Ford Motor Company becomes the first company to produce a monolithic 8-cylinder block. The Ford car and its reliable engine became a favorite of practical Americans.
The Mercury car line, launched in 1938, was successful. The company is nominally run by Edsel Ford, but his authority is not comparable to that of his father. Business began to stagnate, which lasted until the start of World War II, when military orders improved matters.
From 1942 to 47, the production of civilian vehicles came to a sudden stop as the company devoted all its efforts to military needs.
After the brief reign of the old man Ford (Edsel died in 1943), power passed to Henry Ford II in 1945, who breathed new life into the company.
Ford Jr. reorganizes the recruitment system, uses brainstorming methods known to him from the war to develop the company's strategy, inviting a group of systems analysts.
In 1949, Ford Motor Company sold approximately 807,000 vehicles, nearly doubling its sales. Henry Ford II's turnaround program quickly restored the company to health. The result was the construction of 44 manufacturing plants, 18 assembly plants, 32 parts warehouses, two huge test sites and 13 engineering research laboratories in the United States.
The launch of the Thunderbird in 1955 and the now classic Mustang series strengthened financial position Ford Motor. The attractive 1965 4-passenger Mustang became America's favorite car. In the first 100 days, 100,000 of these cars were sold.
In 1968, the first 1.6-liter Escort Twin Cam model began its sports career, opening the season successfully and winning circuits in Ireland, Danish Tulip, Austrian Alps, Acropolis and Rally Scotland over an eight-week period. By the end of its first season, the Escort had won the famous 1000 Lakes Rally in Finland, helping Ford gain a strong position in the World New Car Rally Championship.
The Western European model Ford Taunus/Cortina was very common in the 1970-1980s. Production of the Ford Taunus/Cortina family of station wagons (Kombi) began in 1970.
Since 1976, with the start of production of the new generation Ford Econoline E-series bonneted utility vehicles, they began to use chassis elements, engines and transmissions similar to F-series SUVs and pickup trucks. In 1992, a new range of comfortable 7-, 8-, 12-series vehicles was introduced to the market. and 15-passenger all-metal minibuses and four-door box vans.
The Fiesta family has existed for over 20 years - the first generation appeared back in 1976. The life path of the current generation models, which began at the Geneva Motor Show-89, is nearing its end. Over the course of 11 years, the Fiesta family has undergone major restyling twice (in 1995 and 1999), thanks to which it remains quite modern to this day.
Crown Victoria is one of the most popular models in the USA (in police, taxi, rental, and on the secondary market).
The 1980 full-size Bgonco station wagon was a four-wheel drive pickup truck with a short wheelbase. The cross-country ability turned out to be quite high, so the model remained popular for a long time (in particular in Alaska), even after the appearance of more modern models.
The Ford Escort is produced in the USA and Europe, as well as in Argentina, in three body styles. Production of the American Ford Escort and Mercury Lynx continued until the summer of 1990. They were replaced by models developed on the platform of the Japanese Mazda 323.
In September 1982, rear-wheel drive models of the Sierra family with five-door hatchback and station wagon bodies (Kombi) went on sale, and production of a three-door all-wheel drive model (XR4x4) began.
In November 1986, the 4x4 version of the Ford Scorpio was launched. At the very end of 1991, the presentation of the spacious Scorpio Turnir station wagon took place. In the summer of 1998, production of the Scorpio was stopped, and the European branch of Ford decided to make the Mondeo model the company's flagship.
Since the mid-1980s, the Taurus has been produced. This model was named Car of the Year 1986, and in 1987 it became a best seller in America. Streamlined cars of futuristic design with the beautiful names Taurus and Sable became a major milestone in Ford's transition to the production of a new generation of cars of the 80s - economical, high-tech and aesthetically perfect.
In the same year, a 75% stake in Aston Martin-Lagonda was purchased.
The purchase of the Jaguar company in 1990 further increases the range of Ford models, which in terms of comfort are in no way reminiscent of the “Tin Lizzie”, and a year later a joint venture was created with the German Volkswagen corporation to produce the Ford Galaxy multi-purpose car.
The company is open to innovation and change; It is interesting that Ford Motor, a pioneer in the introduction of the conveyor belt, was the first among large corporations to abandon it, since modern workers are more efficient in doing work in which there is an element of independent creativity.
In 1993, the Ford Mondeo model was released, which immediately set new safety standards in its class. The very next year, this car was recognized as Car of the Year in Europe and became a favorite among buyers.
In the same year, the purchase of the remaining shares of Aston Martin-Lagonda took place.
Ford Windstar was first shown in January 1994. In 1998, the model was restyled. Produced in Canada.
The first show of the Ford EUROPE Galaxy model took place in February 1995 in Geneva. At the Geneva Motor Show 2000, a modernized model with an updated design was presented.
In 1996, the company's 250 millionth car rolled off the assembly line. The implementation of the Ka model has begun.
Ford EUROPE Puma, a small sports coupe based on the Ford Fiesta, was first presented at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1997.
Ford Focus, which long tradition is named Turnier. The European premiere of the car with a hatchback body took place at the beginning of 1998 in Geneva.
In 1998, Ford Motor Company became the world's second largest manufacturer of passenger cars and trucks in terms of total performance.
In 2000, an international jury of 126 automotive journalists, summing up the results of the unprecedented Car of the Century competition, elected the legendary Ford T as the “Car of All Time.” which was put into production on a mass scale. It was the assembly line that made the car a means of transportation accessible to everyone. And the first in the line of truly production cars was the Ford model.
The compact SUV Ford Escape was first presented as a prototype in January 2000 in Detroit. The development was carried out jointly with Mazda. Car production is carried out at a plant in Kansas City.
Ford EUROPE Maverick, compact all-wheel drive SUV, European equivalent Ford Escape. Since 2000, it has been produced jointly with Mazda on the basis of the Mazda Tribute. The new Ford Maverick combines the characteristics of an SUV and a road car.
2001 - the company represents fundamentally new model Ford Mondeo. Its appearance can be considered a revolutionary event. This car, developed by the European branch of the Ford Motor Company, was created on the basis of fundamentally new design technologies. The essence of this technical revolution is the powerful software product, called SZR, which is a complex of systems computer design, computer-aided design and extensive information base data. One of the latest models presented by the company is the Ford Focus Coupe-Cabriolet.
Today, Ford Motor Company has its production, assembly and sales centers in 30 countries. The company produces millions of cars, trucks and tractors annually and is a leader in automotive sales outside of North America. Ford Motor Company sells more than 70 different vehicle models worldwide under the Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Jaguar and Aston Martin brands. The company also has shares in Mazda Motor Corporation and Kia Motors n.Corporatio
Among the “big three” of the American automobile business, Ford Motor occupies an honorable second place in terms of sales volumes.
Ford in Ukraine
The official distributor of Ford cars in Ukraine is the company Winner Imports Ukraine, which was one of the first to work in the Ukrainian automobile market as an official distributor.
In 1991, one of the Ford executives suggested that Ivan Ginyansky, the owner of Winner dealerships in Delaware and Pennsylvania (USA), open another one in Ukraine. The prospect of helping Ford create a dealer network in Ukraine interested Ginyansky.
At the end of 1992, Winner was appointed the official distributor of Ford Motor Co. in Ukraine. Dealer points and service centers were opened throughout Ukraine.
Before buying a car brand of your choice, every buyer is certainly faced with the question of which country's manufacturer's car to choose. After all, as you know, if a car begins to be in great demand in the world, manufacturers from other countries buy the rights to produce it. This happens in Russia, “Reno Logan”, “Toyota Camry”, “Ford Focus”, “”, etc. are examples of this. But now our conversation will focus on a middle-class car with a rich set of components, the Ford Focus, which can be found in three types of assembly in the car markets of the Russian Federation:
European;
- American;
- Russian.
To begin with, let's start with the fact that many people, as soon as they find out that the car Russian assembly they immediately turn away and go look at any other car produced abroad. This is understandable, after all, in almost the entire life of the Soviet automobile industry, nothing worthwhile was done that could be equal to at least a foreign car twenty years older than our car. But you shouldn’t make hasty conclusions about any car, even our build, because each has its own pros and cons! As for a Russian-assembled car, there are not much more disadvantages than its European and American counterparts. On the contrary, the Russian Ford Focus is more adapted to our driving conditions, and when you get behind the wheel of this car, you will feel like you are in a spaceship from the comfort and abundance of electronics. Externally, they hardly differ from each other except for the headlights, but the design differences are greater; spare parts from the Russian Ford Focus cannot fit a foreigner. And now more about the differences between them:
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The Russian Ford Focus, in comparison with its relatives, has very good, high-quality brakes, and therefore at high speed it seems to start braking with its nose. This creates a fear of damaging your bumper on some object found on the road; it feels as if the brakes were designed by a “coward”. As for its American brother, the brakes are quite sluggish, and sometimes you have to squeeze them all the way to the floor to achieve good braking. But the leader in this criterion is clearly the European-assembled Ford Focus, whose brakes were clearly made for driving on the autobahn. They are of average sensitivity; when braking, the speed drops almost instantly, but in comparison with the Russian Ford Focus, the European does not skid, and it does not try to throw you through the windshield.
As for handling. In this criterion, the first place is shared between manufacturers from the USA and Europe, on whose cars even at a speed of 190 km/h no significant sway is noticeable. The car follows almost the indicated trajectory, which cannot be said about their Russian counterpart. A Russian car already at a speed of 140 km/h makes you think about possible consequences, since the steering wheel becomes flimsy, and the car does not exactly follow the trajectory of movement. But the Russian Ford Focus has a fairly high ground clearance, which, unlike its foreign counterparts, makes it possible not to be afraid of every bump.
The ergonomics of the machines from all manufacturers are excellent. There are no backlashes or creaks, as is usually the case on our cars; the interior is adapted for driving at high speeds, as there is lateral support for the seats. As a result, you sit like a glove on almost any corner. The main difference at this point is in the headlights, where the Russian-assembled Ford Focus is at its best. The standard optics of its foreign counterparts are too dim and do not provide enough scope for viewing, which is why you have to install xenon, but based on the fact that this is prohibited in many countries, you have to change all the optics.
In the end, one thing we can say is that all these machines are approximately at the same level, each of them has its own pros and cons. But the main common disadvantage of these cars is that the body material is too thin. It is slightly susceptible to corrosion, but even in the event of a minor accident, you will have to invest more than a penny in repairing your iron horse.
Good luck in choosing a car!!!
Today in Russia there are certain cars that have managed to become popular, and therefore the question of where the third generation Ford Focus is assembled needs to be answered in detail. This is extremely important point, because there is an opinion that domestic car assembly is of low quality. Is it really? Let's try to find out. The third Ford Focus was born in 2010. This model had a grandiose mission: it had to win the hearts of car enthusiasts in more than 120 countries around the world. Since quality and reliability are important, the logical question is where the Focuses are assembled.
After the presentation of the third generation model, copies were available for sale, which were assembled in the German city of Saarlius. Subsequently, Focus production facilities were established in the United States in Wayne. Ford Focus 3 was also assembled in Africa and Latin America. Moreover, China and Thailand also have factories where these cars are manufactured. What cars are sold in Russia and where are they assembled?
"Russian" Focuses
As we noted earlier, initially a car that was assembled abroad was available for sale. In 2011, the situation changed and Russians got the opportunity to buy Focus assembled in the country. This had a number of advantages, because there was no need to pay customs duties, etc. The production facilities for assembling the machine were located in Vsevolozhsk.
The plant is called Ford Sollers and it was built in 2002. This plant can assemble cars for a full cycle. The third generation Ford Focus first rolled off the assembly line in Vsevolozhsk in June 2011.
Various types of Focus bodies and configurations are produced here:
- 5-door hatchbacks;
- sedans;
- station wagons.
The Ford Sollers plant has everything necessary for full-fledged car production: welding and painting shops, assembly lines, warehouses and storage areas for finished cars. There is also a track for testing Focuses for reliability right at the enterprise. Note that not only the third Ford Focus is being assembled here, but also the Mondeo.
The plant in Vsevolozhsk produces Ford with different engines: 1.6 or 2 liters. As for the transmission, the car can be equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission or a PowerShift robot. Focus owners did not have a very good impression of this box due to its strange performance in traffic jams.
The third generation Ford Focus is a truly modern car that gives its owner not only high level comfort, but also ensures its safety. Interesting is latest system MyFord. She is responsible for managing electronics and other systems in the car, including support for high-speed Internet.
Russian components
Ford is not only assembled in Russia from imported spare parts. The fact is that some parts are produced at domestic enterprises, which makes it possible to reduce the price of the car and attract more buyers. It should be noted that local production does not negatively affect overall quality Focus, and all parts are thoroughly checked.
Thus, side windows are made at the Bor Glass Factory. The materials used for finishing the roof and trunk are also domestic. They are made by the PHR enterprise. As for the seats, products from the American company JCI are used here. However, their production is carried out on the territory of the Russian Federation.
The production of rugs is carried out by enterprises in Ivanovo and Samara. The carpets in the Focus interior come from Togliatti. Note that even such an important component of the car as electrical wiring is produced near Moscow by Lear. Among other things, the Kinelagroplast company is responsible for the manufacture of air ducts and other elements of the heating system.
