The end of production of the Ford Focus model at the Saarlouis plant (Germany) marks a turning point in the European automotive industry. After nearly three decades on the market, this compact model disappears at a time of uncertain transition toward electric vehicles.
Its farewell not only saddens consumers, but also highlights a worrying trend: the replacement of light and efficient cars with heavier SUVs, making it difficult to achieve the European Union’s decarbonization goals despite the growth in sales of zero-emission models, as reflected in data from the International Energy Agency. Despite the impact of the news, the farewell of the Focus is, for Ford, only part of its restructuring plan toward a production more focused on electric vehicles.
Goodbye, Focus
Last Friday, November 14, 2025, Ford confirmed that the Saarlouis plant in Germany assembled the last unit of its iconic Focus model. According to statements from the Ford of Europe communications team: “I can confirm that the last Focus has been produced on Friday, Nov 14. It was a white five-door hatchback.” This milestone marks the end of nearly 30 years and more than twelve million units sold worldwide.
The Focus debuted in 1998 with the premise of being a vehicle for everything and everyone, economical and easy to drive. It was not sold as an emission-free model, as it relied on gasoline and diesel, but its lightweight design allowed for significantly lower fuel consumption than the larger vehicles that dominate the market today.
Prominence of SUVs and their environmental impact
There is no doubt that SUVs and crossovers are overtaking other types of vehicles, which worries the International Energy Agency (IEA). According to their data, currently around 330 million SUVs are on the roads worldwide, generating the combustion of one billion tons of CO2 annually. Studies indicate that an SUV consumes more energy (and therefore pollutes more, up to 20%) than a mid-size vehicle traveling the same distance. Thanks to the registration of 15% electric vehicles, the average emissions of new cars in Europe dropped to about 106 grams of CO2 per kilometer in 2023. However, the presence of SUVs threatens to be an obstacle.
Future plans for Ford
The discontinuation of the Focus is part of a major restructuring at Ford. The automaker has decided to focus its resources on plants such as those in Valencia and Cologne, prioritizing investment in electric crossovers, while the Saarlouis factory ends its production phase, leaving its workforce facing compensation processes or relocations.
Environmental challenge for Europe
The European Union maintains its plan to achieve zero emissions by 2035, although the debate has intensified. Some sectors are now proposing a 90% reduction instead of the complete elimination of combustion engines, which highlights the tension between protecting industrial jobs and the urgent climate crisis. As indicated on the European Commission’s Cars and Vans page, the path toward clean mobility does not depend solely on engine technology, but also on our choice of what type of vehicle we want to drive and what impact we are willing to generate on each journey.
Frequently asked questions
When and where was the last Ford Focus manufactured?
The production of this iconic model officially ended on Friday, November 14, 2025, at the Saarlouis plant in Germany. The last unit produced was a white five-door model, closing a cycle of nearly thirty years and more than twelve million vehicles sold worldwide since its debut in 1998.
Why does the rise of SUVs pose a problem for environmental goals?
According to data from the International Energy Agency, SUVs consume up to 20% more energy than a mid-sized vehicle to travel the same distance. Despite the increase in electric car sales, the proliferation of these heavy models makes decarbonization more difficult, as the 330 million SUVs currently on the road generate nearly one billion tons of CO2 per year.
What is Ford’s strategy after withdrawing the Focus from the market?
The disappearance of the Focus is part of a deep restructuring plan in which the company seeks to prioritize investment in electric crossovers. To achieve this, Ford is focusing its resources on plants such as those in Valencia and Cologne, while the Saarlouis factory is coming to the end of its production phase, which involves relocation or compensation processes for its workforce.
