FORD MOTOR COMPANY Ford Motor Company already has fulfilled its commitment to the UAW to create 12,000 U.S. hourly jobs by 2015, today announcing 1,200 new jobs and a second shift at Kansas City Assembly Plant, where the all-new Ford Transit is built.
“The job growth we have created in U.S. manufacturing is a testament to our strong partnership with the UAW, the union’s competitiveness, and the growing demand for Ford’s portfolio of cars, utilities and trucks,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president, The Americas. “Adding a second shift to Kansas City Assembly Plant adds more jobs to this community, and it also helps deliver more Transit vehicles to more customers throughout North America.”
The 1,200 new jobs are in addition to the 2,800 jobs added at Kansas City Assembly Plant in 2012 and 2013 to support the 2015 Transit launch and increased production of Ford F-150. Since the 2011 UAW-Ford contract negotiations, Ford has added jobs across its other U.S. manufacturing plants as well, for a total of 14,000 jobs. Facilities where Ford added jobs include:
- 3,600 at Louisville Assembly Plant
- 1,800 at Michigan Assembly Plant
- 1,700 at Flat Rock Assembly Plant
- 1,600 at Chicago Assembly Plant
- 600 at Kentucky Truck Plant
- 450 at Cleveland Engine Plant
- 240 at Van Dyke Transmission Plant
- 230 at Chicago Stamping Plant
“I am very pleased we are able to add 1,200 new jobs to Kansas City Assembly Plant, which will strengthen this community and continue our efforts to grow good-paying, middle-class manufacturing jobs,” said Jimmy Settles, UAW vice president, National Ford Department. “This is possible because of the collective bargaining process and the partnership between UAW and Ford.”
Investment goes to next-generation manufacturing
In addition to Transit, Kansas City Assembly Plant produces F-150 Regular Cab, SuperCab and SuperCrew pickups. The plant will employ more than 6,000 hourly workers by the end of 2014, on a two-shift pattern for Transit production and three-crew pattern for F-150.
Ford invested $1.1 billion in 2011 to retool and expand the facility for Transit production and to support surging customer demand for F-150. Expansion projects include the addition of a 437,000-square-foot stamping facility and a 78,000-square-foot paint shop.
“Today’s announcement is proof positive that Missouri workers can compete with anyone in the world and further cements Missouri’s position as a leader in next-generation automotive manufacturing,” said Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon. “Surging demand for the vehicles built here in Kansas City is a credit to the hard-working Missourians whose tremendous skills, creativity and work ethic continue to drive our economy forward.”
The investment also supports production of the all-new Ford F-150 in early 2015, after the truck launches at Dearborn Truck Plant later this year.
All-new Ford Transit builds on legendary E-Series
In the United States, Transit replaces America’s best-selling van for 35 years, Ford E-Series, first sold in 1961 as Ford Econoline. E-Series vans and wagons still will be sold side-by-side with Transit until late 2014, providing a seamless transition for Ford customers. E-Series cutaway and stripped chassis will continue to be built and sold through most of the rest of the decade.
Transit recently posted its first large fleet order with Charter Communications, the fourth-largest cable operator in the United States. The company ordered more than 800 low-roof, regular-wheelbase Transit vans to be used by its technicians across 29 states. After extensive review of available full-size vans, Charter selected Ford Transit for its superior fuel economy, cargo space and upfitting convenience.
“Transit has it all – better fuel economy and more capability than E-Series, and a best-in-class range of configurations,” said Hinrichs. “This vehicle is a game changer.”
When equipped with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost® engine, Transit returns up to 46 percent better gas mileage than Ford E-Series with the 6.8-liter V10 premium gas engine, along with more payload. Transit with the standard 3.7-liter V6 has up to 19 percent better gas mileage than E-Series equipped with its standard 4.6-liter V8 engine.
Transit was introduced in Europe in 1965, and has been the best-selling commercial van in the United Kingdom for 49 years. It is sold in 118 markets on six continents.
The high-roof Transit – with best-in-class maximum interior cargo height of 81.5 inches – provides enough headroom for a person 6 feet 4 inches tall to stand upright in the cargo area.
Transit offers as much as 487 cubic feet of cargo volume and 4,650 pounds of maximum payload capacity – more than competing vans from General Motors and Chrysler. Transit delivers a maximum towing capacity of 7,500 pounds.
Transit can be configured to offer as much as 75 percent more cargo volume than the largest E-Series, helping customers save money and time associated with having to make a second delivery. Maximum payload increases at least 600 pounds across the lineup versus comparable E-Series vans.
Transit is available in van, wagon, chassis cab and cutaway body styles; in three body lengths and two wheelbases for van and wagon, along with three roof heights. In addition to the standard 3.7-liter V6, a 3.5-liter EcoBoost and 3.2-liter Power Stroke® diesel are available. Transit trim levels include XL and XLT and more vehicle configuration choices than ever from a Ford commercial van.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 186,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit corporate.ford.com.
For news releases, related materials and high-resolution photos and video, visit www.media.ford.com.
