Ford plans to launch production and sales of a restyled Mondeo saloon model at its plant near St. Petersburg in October, Ford Russia's Managing Director Mark Ovenden said on Wednesday.

Production of a new Ford Focus will be launched in 2011, with sales starting in the second half of that year.

Russian sales would amount to 1.6-1.7 million vehicles in 2010, Ovenden said, adding that the company is hiring 240 people and is considering introducing a night shift.

The plant, which employs 2,400 and started operations in the Leningrad region in 2002, produces Focuses and Mondeos. Its annual capacity amounts to about 125,000 cars.

MOSCOW, August 25 (Ria Novosti)