Ford Reboots Wayne Assembly Plant
After a complete gutting and reconfiguration of a plant that used to make Expeditions and Navigators, the Wayne Assembly Plant has been transformed with assistance from the DOE’s Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing loan program.This plant is now one of the most flexible in Ford’s entire system, with two platforms and multiple powertrains, including conventional internal combustion, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and pure electric. This makes it one of the few plants in the North American system that can respond to market demands in real time.
The text below is from a Detroit Free Press article dated March 17, 2011.
Redesigned Ford Focus lauded in celebration at Wayne assembly plant
Mar. 17, 2011
BRENT SNAVELY
DETROIT FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER
Ford officially launched the redesigned Ford Focus today at its assembly plant in Wayne with a ceremony that included Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder as well as top Ford and UAW officials.
“We really have reason to celebrate because we are realizing all the hard work that you have done to bring this new Ford Focus to the marketplace,” Mark Fields, Ford’s president of the Americas, said at the event today.
The compact Focus, built on a common global platform, is the centerpiece of Ford’s strategy to build the same vehicle around the world to reduce development, engineering and marketing costs.
By 2012, Ford expects the Focus and other cars built off of the same platform will top annual global sales of 2 million.
“This next generation Ford Focus is truly the first to be designed, engineered, sourced and manufactured globally,” said John Fleming, Ford executive vice president of global manufacturing and labor affairs.
At Michigan Assembly, Ford has invested $550 million to retool the former truck plant into a car plant that can build the Focus.
The state of Michigan, Wayne County and the city of Wayne contributed more than $160 million in tax credits and grants to support Ford’s investment.
Ford also is investing $450 million at the plant and at other locations in Michigan to develop the Focus Electric and other electric vehicles. The Focus Electric as well as hybrid and plug-in versions of Ford’s C-MAX small minivan will be assembled at Michigan Assembly in Wayne.
The fuel efficient Focus is arriving at dealerships this month just as gas prices are topping $3.55 a gallon nationally and $3.53 in Michigan.
“Today’s announcement is great news for Ford, the City of Wayne, and for our entire state,” U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., said in a statement today.
Ford transferred about 3,200 workers from its Wayne Assembly Plant, located next door to Michigan Assembly, in January to start building the Focus. Another shift could be added next year.
“The launch of the 2012 Focus and the new jobs it will create shows how efforts to support our auto industry pay off for Michigan’s economy,” Stabenow said.
Today's event also included Jim Tetreault, Ford’s vice president of North America manufacturing; Jimmy Settles, UAW vice president and director of the union’s Ford department and Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano.
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