Date: 04-17-2008
Ford Motor Co. has announced that it will increase production of its redesigned Focus car by about 30% this year to meet growing demand. Ford and its workers are engaged in an all-out effort to build 245,000 of the cars this year compared to 191,000 in 2007. Ford will have workers work overtime on weekdays, with two nine-hour shifts, and Saturdays to increase the productivity ratio. ''The small car market is the new battle ground for growth,'' said Ford sales analyst George Pipas. ''We are looking for another solid month for the Focus even as auto sales are falling.'' The Focus, which was restructured and redesigned for the current year, has been a resounding success owing to its energy efficiency attributes and high-end options such as the Sync. Sync, a product of the Ford-Microsoft collaboration, connects various electronic devices to the car.
