Wed 12 May 2010
New Ford Fiesta Production Begins at Mexican Plant
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2011 Red Ford Fiesta
- The newly transformed Cuautitlán Stamping and Assembly Plant (CSAP) in Mexico reopens and begins producing the all-new 2011 Ford Fiesta
- The plant will produce two versions of this new vehicle, a four-door sedan and a five-door hatchback, for Ford customers in the United States, Canada and Mexico
- Ford transformed its Cuautitlán facility from a truck-producing plant, creating 2,000 direct jobs and at least 6,000 indirect jobs. As part of its ONE Ford plan, the company has been leveraging its global strengths and shifting production to more fuel-efficient small cars customers value
- On sale this summer, the Fiesta features an expressive, vibrant design, projected best-in-class fuel economy and a number of features and technologies not found on competitive vehicles this size
CUAUTITLAN IZCALLI, MEXICO, May 11, 2010 – Ford Motor Company today celebrates the start of production of the all-new 2011 Ford Fiesta at its Cuautitlán Stamping and Assembly Plant (CSAP), which has been transformed from a truck plant to a car plant producing the all-new Fiesta for North American customers.
The start of Fiesta production at Cuautitlán marks another milestone in the ONE Ford plan to deliver even more products people really want while better leveraging the company’s global product and manufacturing strengths.
“Our investment in Cuautitlán brings ‘ONE Ford’ global vehicles to life in North America and allows more customers to experience even more of our high-quality, fuel-efficient vehicles,” said Jim Farley, Ford’s group vice president of Canada, Mexico and South America operations and Global Marketing. “Small cars are the fastest-growing product segment around the world, and Ford is answering the call with fun-to-drive new cars such as Fiesta, Fusion and the new Focus that is coming soon.”
Mexico’s President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa and the Governor of State of Mexico Enrique Peña Nieto joined the Cuautitlan event to celebrate the start of production for the Fiesta, which starts arriving in North American dealerships this summer and is already a strong seller in Europe and Asia.
Eduardo Serrano Berry, President and CEO of Ford in Mexico, expressed his pride on the transformation of Ford’s plant in Cuautitlán, now one of the most advanced flexible manufacturing complexes in the world.
“This year, as Ford of Mexico celebrates 85 years of uninterrupted operations in our country, we feel honored for the trust the corporation has placed in our manufacturing capabilities,” he said. “Ford of Mexico has a great team and a strong track record for producing high-quality vehicles, and we are eager to deliver outstanding new cars for an entire continent of customers.”
New Fiesta: Above the rest
The all-new Fiesta features an expressive, vibrant design, fuel-efficient engine, high-quality materials and a number of features and technologies not found on competitive vehicles.
Fun to drive, the new Fiesta has a 1.6-liter DOHC I-4 engine that delivers 120 horsepower. This engine can be mated with either a five-speed manual transmission or Ford’s new advanced PowerShift six-speed automatic transmission, which is expected to deliver best-in-class fuel economy of 40 mpg highway.
Designed to be versatile, personal and adaptable, Fiesta is expected to deliver best-in-class safety, convenience and connectivity with segment-exclusive SYNC® voice-activated communications system, an expressive color palette and available graphics.
The new Fiesta is built off Ford’s global small car platform. By 2014, this vehicle platform will deliver up to 1.6 million global vehicles annually, including up to five separate vehicle lines and eight top hats.
Fiesta’s global track record
The Ford Fiesta was first introduced in Europe in 1976. Since then, it has become synonymous with outstanding driving performance, design and value.
In the U.S. and Canada, the Fiesta arrived as a 1978 model, equipped with a Kent OHV I-4 of 1.6 liter engine – the biggest engine offered in European markets.
The Fiesta went on sale in Mexico in 1998, selling more than 294,000 units.
Worldwide, Fiesta has sold more than 12 million units in the last 30 years.
The new Fiesta is off to a fast start, selling 750,000 units in its first 18 months on the market in Europe and Asia. The new car also has received a number of awards, including:
* A prestigious ‘red dot’ design award for international product design
o 28 leading designers and design experts from 19 countries called Fiesta one of the most stylish cars in the world, labeling its design “innovative and dynamic.”
o The award showcases the fact that Fiesta delivers style, together with outstanding quality that consumers desire.
o The red dot design awards, one of the world’s largest design recognition programs, are presented annually by Germany’s Essen-based Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen.
* 2009 Car of the Year – The Sun Motors
* 2009 Croatian Car of the Year – Croatian Car Association
* 2009 Hellenic Car of the Year – Journalists from Autobild, Drive Autocar
* Woman’s Car 2009 – Hachette Filipacchi Editorial Group
* 2008 Scottish Car of the Year – Association of Scottish Motoring Writers
* The Best of the 2008 Geneva Show – Most Significant – Autoweek
* Top Gear, Car, Car & Driver and 4 Wheels
* 2008 Croatian Car of the Year – Croatian Car Association
* 2008 Best Supermini – What Car? magazine
Cuautitlán: A tradition of manufacturing
Since 2008, Ford has invested $3 billion in its Mexican operations – including a diesel engine plant in Chihuahua, a new transmission plant in Guanajuato (a joint venture with Getrag) that will product the Fiesta’s new automatic transmission as well as the transformation and expansion at the Cuautitlán Plant.
Opened in November 1964, Ford’s Cuautitlán Plant now has become one of the world’s most advanced flexible manufacturing complexes.
Ford expanded the Cuautitlán plant by 25,800 m2, building in five new lines of high-productivity presses, 270 robots and in-line measuring systems, adjustable ergonomic platforms in the upholstery area and new paint facilities that are more efficient and environmentally friendly.
“All the major subassemblies of the body and final assembly will be completed in the plant,”said Eduardo Villegas, General Manager of CSAP. “This helps ensure a quality build and even greater productivity.”
Fiesta production at the site has created 2,000 direct jobs and at least 6,000 indirect jobs.
The Cuautitlán plant has produced more than 2.2 million vehicles during its 45-year history, including some iconic products. These include the Ford Mustang, LTD, Crown Victoria, Thunderbird, Taurus, Contour, Mercury Grand Marquis, Contour, Mystique and a variety of light- and medium-duty F-Series trucks.
For more information about the Ford Fiesta, please visit: http://media.ford.com/images/10031/Fiesta_Timeline.pdf |
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About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 176,000 employees and about 80 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and, until its sale, Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.
About Ford Mexico
Ford of Mexico began operations in 1925 and currently employs more than 5,800 people in manufacturing facilities that include the Stamping and Assembly Plant of Hermosillo; Engines I and Engines II of Chihuahua; the Cuautitlán Stamping and Assembly Plant as well as in its headquarters located in Mexico City. In Mexico, Ford produces the Ford Fusion, the Mercury Milan, the Lincoln MKZ as well as the hybrid versions of the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan. Its strategy of manufacturing also integrates the assembly and production of the Duratec I-4 (2.0- and 2.5-liter) engine as well as the PowerStroke Diesel 6.7-liter V-8 engine. The brands that integrate into Mexico’s group include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and, until completing its process of selling, Volvo.
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- 2011 Red Ford Fiesta
Photos from the Ford Fiesta Club Mexico
