Ford to build its new Fiesta subcompact cars

Ford Motor Co. has confirmed plans to build its new Fiesta subcompact cars at its Rayong plant in Thailand in 2009, following the start of production of the models at its plant in Germany in early August, said local reports. The Rayong plant is under construction to increase domestic production by at least 100,000 cars per year for export. In addition to the Fiesta, the first of a generation of new global small Ford cars, the subcompact Mazda 2 will be built at the plant. Ford, in partnership with Mazda, is investing more than US$500 million to expand the Rayong plant. The two companies plan to export the small cars to ASEAN, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in addition to selling them in the domestic market. (August 19, 2008)