2022 Ford Focus ST production halted until June, Fiesta ST paused for a fortnight

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine and supply chain issues have impacted two of the Blue Oval's only passenger offerings in Australia

Ford is facing multiple supply delays worldwide as production lines for the Focus ST and Fiesta come to a halt due to parts shortages – forcing their local launch to be pushed back.

Worst hit is the Focus ST, currently slated to re-enter production in June thanks to a shortage of touchscreens, with the 13.2-inch SYNC 4 unit now in scarce supply due to its manufacturing base in Ukraine being unable to meet demand on account of the current conflict with Russia.

Ford had planned to introduce its updated Focus ST to the local market in May, but the production delays have forced it to delay the Australian launch, potentially back to August barring further issues.

While the native European market of the Focus ST has copped a downgrade to an eight-inch, SYNC 3 system, Ford Australia says it won't de-spec local examples.

"The SYNC 4 parts shortage is still ongoing in Europe and we don’t have definite timing yet as to when it will be resolved," a Ford Australia spokesperson told Wheels.

"What we can confirm is that at this stage is that our approach is not to compromise on spec, and as a result Focus ST production is currently on hold until June, when our relocated suppliers expect to be able to supply the parts, and semiconductors, to build the SYNC 4 assembly."

The Fiesta ST will also suffer from production stoppages, though not as much as the Focus, as a report from German publication Automobilwoche states Ford's Cologne factory won't resume production of the hatchback until April 25.

In February, Ford announced its upcoming updated Fiesta ST would arrive in Australia sans blind-spot monitoring and rear-cross traffic alert, with semiconductor shortages leading to the safety equipment being taken off its hot hatch.

Ford's supply struggles, as well as its decision to revise the Focus and Fiesta ranges to ST-only variants, has resulted in sales of both models to drop in 2022, with just 79 Focus STs (down from 356) and seven Fiesta STs (down from 123) shifted to the end of March.

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