If there's one thing the end of the Cold War taught us, it's not to mess with the Russians unless we happen to have ICBMs or mujahadeen handy. Ford didn't listen when the Rodina's honchos demanded 40% local sourcing for the St. Petersburg-built Focus, and as a result, they're losing what amounts to $700 in tax breaks on every car. Ford denies the allegations, saying that they've met the target, but as a sidenote to the boys and girls in Dearborn, it might help to recruit a few Afghan warlords and stockpile a few Minutemen, just in case things get uglier.

Ford loses tax breaks on Russian-made Focus [Forbes]

Related:
Mother Russia, She Lays Her Pontoons on Down: Land Rover, Volvo to Be Built in Vsevolozhsk?

Contact information for this author is not available.