If there's one model from Ford, which has remained significant from the global perspective, it is the Focus. The Ford Focus has been available across all the continents for more than 24 years, thus making it one of the most globally accepted cars. Need a car for your family of four or five? It serves your requirements in its regular avatar. Need a hot hatch to score fast lap times and quick runs. Its ST and RS versions fulfill those expectations.

With such prowess and illustrious history, it will be saddening to see the demise of Ford Focus. Sadly, it seems that the time has come for the Ford Focus to bow out. Ford has already stopped the sales of Focus in many parts of the world, including the USA, due to its increased 'focus' on SUVs and crossovers over sedans and hatchbacks. And if a recent news report is anything to go by, the Focus hatchback will get phased out from the remaining markets in the next couple of years. Read more details about it in the section below.

Related: These Are Our Favorite Features Of The 2018 Ford Focus

End Of The Road For Ford’s Plant In Saarlouis, Germany

Fourth-generation Ford Focus front three quarter
via Ford

It is the disheartening report we are talking about. According to a reprot by autonews, Ford has confirmed that it will not bring any replacement for the current-generation Focus after the end of its lifecycle in 2025. In a media interaction, the Chairman of Ford Europe, Stuart Rowley, said that the company is analyzing alternatives for the body assembly and manufacturing operations at its Saarlouis production facility in Germany.

Ford’s production plant in Saarlouis currently manufactures only one model – the Focus hatchback. With this news breaking out, the future of the Saarlouis plant after 2025 is also in jeopardy. Ford's other plant in Germany, the Cologne production facility inaugurated by Henry Ford in 1929, will keep on manufacturing its other models. These models also include new all-electric cars based on Volkswagen's MEB platform under the Ford-Volkswagen alliance.

According to Rowley, the inevitable future of acceptance of electric mobility will require less human labor. Due to this, more than 4,000 workers will lose their jobs at Saarlouis production facility, as the plant will shut down after the end of Focus’ life cycle in 2025.

The Uncertain Future Of The Ford Focus

Ford Focus sedan fourth-generation rear three-quarter moving on the road
via Ford

In its history till date, the Ford Focus has been sold in multiple iterations, including a hatchback, sedan, cross-hatchback, and a station wagon. The current fourth-generation Ford Focus is available in a hatchback-only form. Ford’s strategic shift as an SUV maker meant that this fourth-generation Focus never arrived in North America. Ford’s departure from a few South American and Asian markets also restricted the presence of Focus in these markets.

Currently, four production plants from Ford are making this version of Focus – Saarlouis plant, Chongqing plant, Hangzhou plant, and Zhongli plant. Out of this, the Saarlouis plant will shut down in 2025, which will lead to the end of the availability of Ford Focus in the European market. The production plants in Chongqing and Hangzhou are catering to the demands of the Chinese car market. On the other hand, the Zhongli production facility in Taiwan manufactures the Focus ST for the Australasian market.

Due to the increasing focus on SUVs and electric vehicles, Ford will be phasing out the Focus gradually from the Chinese, Australian, and other remaining markets by 2025. Ford is not developing any replacement for the current-generation Focus, thus marking the end of the road for the Ford Focus in 2025.

How Focus Shaped Ford’s Destiny In Global Markets

Ford Focus hatchback first-generation front three quarter
via Ford

While Ford was a go-to carmaker in its home market in North America, it was still a growing car maker in Europe towards the end of the 20th century. Ford decided to gain a strong foothold in Europe by replacing the Ford Escort with the first-generation Focus in 1998. The Ford Focus was launched in Europe first to attract more younger generation buyers towards the brand Ford, who wanted a compact, pocket-friendly, and practical first-time car.

The soaring popularity of the Ford Focus in the European markets encouraged Ford to roll out the Focus in North America, South America, Asian, and Australian regions. The multiple iterations of a three-door hatchback, five-door hatchback, sedan, and station wagon further expanded its versatility as a family car. In addition, the ST and RS versions of the Ford Focus proved to be desirable hot hatch versions of the Ford Focus, which still have a huge fan base across the globe.

The second-generation Ford Focus introduced in 2005 saw the car receiving a couple more iterations like a two-door coupe-cabriolet and a station wagon with a crossover look, the Focus X Road, which was available only in the Netherlands. The third-generation Ford Focus arrived in 2010 and affirmed Ford’s presence in the motorsport circuits. It also received an all-electric avatar for the North American market, which was on sale for a brief duration.

The current fourth-generation Ford Focus got launched in Europe, China, Taiwan, Australasia, and some restricted markets in 2018. This generation also received a five-door Active version for the hatchback and station wagon models, which feature a rugged crossover look. None of the versions of the fourth-generation Ford Focus came to the USA due to Ford's increasing interest as an SUV and crossover maker. It hurt those who loved the driving dynamics and practicality of this compact hatchback from Ford.

The sun of the Ford Focus might set down on the horizon gradually, but it will go into the history books as one of the most iconic and popular Fords of all time.