Ford Quietly Ends Focus Production After 27 Years Without Even Saying Goodbye

- The last Ford Focus has quietly rolled off the assembly line in Germany.
- The Focus was launched in 1998 and generated millions of sales.
- It could potentially be replaced in Europe by a new mid-size crossover.
Fordβs war on cars has claimed another victim and this time itβs the Focus. While the model exited North America in 2018, it has survived overseas.
Unfortunately, the grim reaper has returned as the final Focus has reportedly rolled off the assembly line in Saarlouis, Germany. Ford hasnβt officially announced the end of production, but workers have been morning the loss of the car by describing its death as βpainfulβ and βsad.β
Even worse, the future of the Saarlouis plant looks bleak. Two years ago, Ford said they βconducted an extensive searchβ for a suitor and signed a non-binding agreement with a potential investor in June of 2023. However, the unnamed investor dropped out following a βrigorous due diligence process and negotiation.β
Ford Europeβs Future Comes Into Focus
The Focusβ death is the latest blow to the companyβs European arm, which has seen sales plummet in recent years. There have also been painful job cuts as well as a disastrous collaboration with Volkswagen.
More: Ford Could Be Preparing To Fill A Focus-Sized Hole In Their Lineup
Amid this background, Ford of Europe has a new president with tough decisions to make. Autonews said Jim Baumbick will need to decide if the companyβs new Universal EV Platform, which will be launched on a mid-size truck, would make sense for Europe.
If he rules that out, the publication suggested Baumbick could double-down on the Volkswagen partnership. In particular, they suggested Ford could potentially offer a new Fiesta based on the ID. Polo. The latter rides on the new MEB Entry platform and is targeted to cost less than β¬25,000 ($28,973).
While it remains to be seen if that idea will come to fruition, Ford has already announced plans for a new βmulti-energyβ vehicle that will be built in Valencia, Spain. Previous reports have suggested the mystery model will arrive in 2027 and be a Focus-sized crossover.
The model is rumored to be built alongside the Kuga and will reportedly share some components to help keep costs down. The crossover is also expected to offer hybrid and electric powertrains.
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Posted by Frank Neukirch on Tuesday, November 11, 2025