First Ford Mondeo rolls off the line
The first Mondeo has made its way down the production line at Ford's production line in Genk, Belgium. The Genk plant has undergone a big upgrade and is one of the most flexible in Ford's production arsenal. The plant was already building S-Max and Galaxy vehicles, and now with the Mondeo added to the mix, there are five different body styles being turned out at a maximum rate of 1,200 cars per day. Keeping it interesting for the workers, the different body styles can come down the line in any order, as well. It looks like Ford's investment of over 700 million Euro will be paying off as they ramp up full production on their lauded European offerings. While 98 percent of the Genk plant's output will be for export, the United States is not one of the 60 countries these cars are headed. A shame, as we really dig the Euro Fords.
Press release after the jump
[Source: Ford]
GENK, Belgium, March 27, 2007 – Less than 12 months after the official production start of the successful Ford S-MAX and new generation Ford Galaxy, the first all-new Ford Mondeo today rolled off the same production line at Ford Genk.
An investment program totaling €715 million was made at Genk in support of the three new models. And once production is running at maximum capacity, almost 1,200 Mondeo, S-MAX and Galaxy models will be built there each day, with 98 percent of the total being exported to more than 60 countries.
"After the international recognition and success of both the Galaxy and the S-MAX, which was voted Car of the Year 2007, the new Mondeo completes the Ford range in the crucially important European CD segment," said John Fleming, Ford of Europe's president and CEO.
"Following the introduction of a new, flexible production system over the past year, Ford Genk has made gains in its efficiency and quality, and it remains the cornerstone of the production of Ford's large car line-up," he added.
From today as many as five different body styles will roll off the same production line at Genk – and in any order. These body styles are S-MAX, Galaxy, Mondeo four-door, Mondeo five-door and Mondeo wagon (estate). Genk is the only Ford plant to produce all these models.
"Thanks to the far-reaching modernization of our production plant, Ford Genk achieves pace-setting production quality and flexibility, enabling us to respond quickly to the ever changing demands of our customers", says Guy Martens, general manager of Ford Genk.
Since the Genk production plant opened in 1964, more than 12.6 million vehicles have been built there. It is one of the most modern vehicle assembly factories in Europe, and together with the Volvo production plant at Gent it accounts for more than half the total production, employment and export of Belgium's automotive sector. The plant has 5,800 employees.
The sales launch across Europe of the new Ford Mondeo is planned for the first half of June 2007.
The start of new Mondeo production is the second Job 1 ceremony for Ford of Europe this week. On March 26, Ford began production of the new Ford C-MAX at its plant in Saarlouis, Germany.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
big L 12:59AM (3/28/2007)
as a shareholder of Ford, I ask why the USA-50 states- can not have this Mondeo 5 dr to sell?
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DPC car videos 4:09PM (3/27/2007)
Th Ford Mondeo looks like a great everyday car. I am sure this will be the top selling Ford product in Europe. Too bad we won't be seeing it here in the United states, and the 1200 cars produced everyday is very impressive.
http://www.dpccars.com
DPCcars
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felipe 4:14PM (3/27/2007)
that is a nice Ford.
they should move that stateside but everyone is too
SUV-CUV happy and it would probably sell.
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Rick Lyon 5:20PM (3/27/2007)
It truly is ironic. I can't stand US Fords, yet I can't stand not being able to purchase foreign Fords....
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Bob-o 4:17PM (3/27/2007)
Hopefully we'll see it here. Mullaly did pledge to have more global cars under his watch.
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The driver 4:40PM (3/27/2007)
Why doesn't Ford make nice-looking cars in US? If I didn't see Ford in Europe, I'd say it as terrible in design as GM. Is crap all we deserve? That is evident discrimination of the Americans on Ford's behalf.
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Don 4:39PM (3/27/2007)
Now, if they could just get the Mondeo across the Atlantic...
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Kowell 8:42AM (3/28/2007)
This is one nice wagon... bring it over PLEASE
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freestufftimes 5:47PM (3/27/2007)
the mondeo looked great in casino royale too. Now if ford wasnt retarded and brought it here they might start making money again.
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cdiddy67 4:49PM (3/27/2007)
Isn't it ironic that in a country full of fords nobody wants, there's a ford that everybody wants but we can't have (as of yet). maybe its one of those "grass is always greener" deals. or maybe ford just drastically mis-judged its NA market
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Aetius 5:03PM (3/27/2007)
Much as I'd like to make a comment on how Ford should 'bring it over here pronto', I gotta admit their reason for not doing so. And that's simple - they know Americans will not pay premium prices for Ford sedans. It won't even help when the Mazda version comes to the States, because, unlike here in Canada, Mazda isn't popular in the States, either.
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judd 5:16PM (3/27/2007)
I think they still think people in NA will never see the cars produced in Europe so 2nd hand styling is "A OK" for you.
Dear Ford,
The internet can cross oceans.
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wetstuff 5:24PM (3/27/2007)
Fop Fields is too busy jetting the hell out of Detroit to notice that he's got a potential hit in the barn. Maybe Ford EU should simply break away from these idots.
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Marcb 6:38PM (3/27/2007)
That is a very gracious car, with lines the remind of a mazda 6 and some Audi looking front grill shape, or is it dodge? I bet its gonna be a really nice car to tune.
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hambone43 6:32PM (3/27/2007)
ford really needs to reconsider their decision to not bring the mondeo to the states. i'd hit it...twice.
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Greg Paul 11:39AM (3/28/2007)
If Ford were to bring this car to the US, with a MANUAL transmission, I'd strongly consider it.
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Matt 6:35PM (3/27/2007)
Well at least we get the mustang that the rest of the world envies us for ;-)
The Mondeo is a positive step in the right direction for family sedans, but I'm not sure ford wants to sacrifice the fusion and all the research and development that went into that car. Certainly the fusion's platform mate the Mazda 6, would be lonely without it.
You want a euro-family sedan? Just get the new S80 volvo the mondeo was based off of.
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R.Autry 8:36PM (3/27/2007)
Ford has lost it domestically. Mis-managed to their grave. Isn't it funny though how Europeans never took a fancy to raggedy butt American iron through all these decades. Must have been the price of their fuel. Duh.
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Bryan 6:53PM (3/27/2007)
Eventually we will have some form of this car. However, the Fusion sells very well, and I really like it. It would be stupid for Ford to dump the Fusion for this car here in the US. Now, we do need the new Focus...
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Daniel 7:37PM (3/27/2007)
Hey Ford.
Set a new Mondeo next to a Ford Five Hundred and see if you can figure out why you have a problem in North America?
It ain't rocket science.
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