Effort is part of a larger $9 billion commitment to invest in U.S. facilities.
Ford Motor Company plants in Michigan and Ohio are about to get a big upgrade — and hundreds of American workers will see the benefits.
The automaker announced on Tuesday that it is investing $1.6 billion in two of its American facilities, creating or retaining 650 hourly jobs. It's part of a $9 billion commitment the company made in its collective bargaining agreement with the United Autoworkers (UAW) to continue to invest in U.S. plants.
Ford will invest $1.4 billion in the Livonia Transmission Plant in Michigan, creating or retaining 500 hourly jobs to build a new 10-speed transmission that will be used in F-150 models, including the new F-150 Raptor. The plant currently employs more than 1,550 people who are charged with building a transmission used in vehicles including the Mustang, F-150, Transit, and Expedition.
The company will also spend $200 million to update its Ohio Assembly Plant to build the Super Duty chassis cab, leading to 150 new or retained jobs. More than 1,650 people work at the plant, helping to build F-350, F-450, and F-550 trucks, among other vehicles.
Joe Hinrichs, president of the Americas for Ford, said in a statement that Ford remains “committed to manufacturing in the United States.”
Ford has invested $12 billion in its U.S. facilities over the past five years, creating nearly 28,000 U.S. jobs. The company says it is committed to 2,800 U.S. jobs in the past five months for a total of 8,500 hourly jobs in the United States in the next four years.
“We are proud that Ford employs more hourly workers and builds more vehicles in the United States than any other automaker,” he said.
Jimmy Settles, vice president of the National Ford Department at the UAW, said that he is “thrilled that through our collective bargaining with Ford we were able to secure a substantial investment for the communities of Southeast Michigan and Northeast Ohio.”
“The men and women of both Livonia Transmission and Ohio Assembly have shown a great commitment to manufacturing quality products, and we look forward to their continued success,” Settles added.