Focus factory closes as Ford shifts EV
Words: Richard Edwards
After 57 years of continuous operation, Ford is shutting down its Saarlouis plant, the long-time production home of the iconic Ford Focus.
The closure, set to take effect in November, will bring the Focus’s production to a halt and mark the end of a legacy that also saw the factory produce household names like the Escort, Capri, and Fiesta.
At present, the facility turns out around 600 vehicles a day. But with Ford failing to secure a buyer last year, company leaders have opted to close the plant as part of a broader shift towards electric vehicles, SUVs, and large pickup trucks—most of which will be built in the United States.
Other European plants in Spain and the UK are also experiencing cutbacks under Ford’s restructuring.
The shutdown leaves about 4000 workers facing an uncertain future.
Pharmaceutical firm Vetter is stepping in to take over the site. Vetter has announced plans to create up to 2,000 new roles and says it hopes to absorb many of the skilled workers affected by Ford’s exit.
The final Focus rolling off the production line will bookend a history dating back to 1968, when the plant first opened its doors.
As Ford pivots to electric vehicles, it has confirmed that its new electric Capri model will be manufactured in Cologne—further signalling Saarlouis’s end as the brand’s European car-making hub.
