Ford is Eyeing Production in Mexico Again
Ford is planning to produce an upcoming all-electric SUV in Mexico rather than Michigan.
According to a Bloomberg report, Ford wants to shift production to Mexico due to cheaper labor costs, which helps build the business case for the new all-electric model. Sending production of the unnamed SUV to Mexico will also boost planned output of self-driving vehicles at the company’s factory in Flat Rock, Michigan. The American automaker is is increasing its investment by $200 million and adding 150 more jobs to the Michigan plant as part of the shift.
The self-driving vehicle that is expected to be built in Michigan is set to debut in 2021.
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As for the electric SUV that will be built in Mexico, it is said to have a 300-mile range on a single charge and production will start in 2020. It is one of 13 electric or hybrid models Ford plans on introducing in the coming years as part of its $4.5-billion investment. There’s even a hybrid version of the F-150 in the works.
In the interview, Ford’s executive vice president of global markets, Jim Farley, emphasized Ford’s “growing ambitions in autonomous vehicles really means we don’t have room” for the EV in Michigan. As a result, the automaker had to find a different location for production.
[Source: Bloomberg]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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