Ford confirms $1.45 bn investment in Michigan plants for new pickups, SUVs, EVs and AVs

Ford Motor Company is investing more than $1.45 billion (Rs 10,320 crore) in two southeast Michigan manufacturing facilities and adding 3,000 new jobs to strengthen its leadership in trucks and SUVs and support the company’s expansion into electric and autonomous vehicles.

Ford is investing approximately $750 million (Rs 5,338 crore) and adding 2,700 new direct jobs at its manufacturing facility in Wayne, Michigan, during the next three years. Ford will install new equipment to support production of the all-new Ford Bronco and Ford Ranger as well as create a new modification centre at the Wayne location.

Employees at Ford’s Autonomous Vehicle, Bronco and Ranger modification center in Wayne will complete Ford’s first autonomous vehicles starting in 2021, including installing the vehicles’ unique self-driving technology and unique purpose-built interiors. This will be the first facility of its kind for Ford and will drive synergies with the company’s existing AV research functions in Dearborn and Detroit. At that same location, the Bronco and Ranger will be modified for customers.

At Ford’s Dearborn manufacturing site, Ford will add 300 jobs and invest about $700 million (Rs 4,982 crore) to support production of new electrified variants of its F-150 truck, producing both a F-150 hybrid and fully electric F-150. Ford will also create a new operation in Dearborn here battery cells will be assembled into a battery pack for the F-150 hybrid and all-electric F-150.

“At Ford, we are investing aggressively in building on our strengths today – including trucks and SUVs – while at the same time expanding our leadership into electric and autonomous vehicles,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford’s president, Automotive. “As America’s No. 1 producer of automobiles, we are proud of our commitment to invest in manufacturing here in Michigan.”

The company’s investments are supported by Ford’s strong partnership with the UAW, as well as with federal, state, county and local governments.

2020 rollouts include new F-150, F-150 hybrid, Bronco
In 2020, Ford will debut the all-new F-150 and F-150 hybrid. The fully electric Ford F-150 is coming soon after and will be part of the company’s more than $11.5 billion (Rs 81,845 crore) global electrified vehicle investment. Dearborn Truck Plant will build these Ford F-150s, part of Ford F-Series, America’s best-selling truck for 42 straight years.

The Ford Bronco will be revealed in mid- 2020. This all-new off-road SUV will be built alongside the Ford Ranger at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant.