The next-generation Focus, a global vehicle, will be revealed in January at the Detroit auto show.

According to a Detroit News report, the 490-million-U.S.-dollar plant in Chongqing is the third joint venture with China's Changan Ford Mazda Automobile and should be ready for operation in 2012.

Chief Executive Alan Mulally, who was in China for the groundbreaking, said initial capacity at the new Chinese plant will be 150,000 vehicles a year, which will increase the total of Ford's Chinese operations to 600,000.

The plant "reinforces our commitment to the further expansion of our China operations to meet the continued rise in demand from Chinese consumers," Mulally said.

This will be Ford's second plant in Chongqing. The first also makes the Focus as well as the Mondeo and S-Max. The Ford Fiesta is built in Nanjing where the automaker also builds engines that will incorporate EcoBoost technology next year. With partner Jiangling Motors Corp. in Nanchang, Ford makes commercial vehicles including the Ford Transit.

Ford will introduce at least four new products for the Chinese market over the next three years, according to the report.