Ford Invests $350 Million, Creates or Protects 800 Jobs, Adding New Fuel-Efficient Transmission to Michigan Plant
- $350 million Livonia Transmission Plant upgrade supports production of a new transmission; investment
creates or retains 800 hourly jobs
- New transmission provides better fuel efficiency and performance for future Ford vehicles
- Ford has announced more than $2.25 billion in new investments in Michigan this year
Ford is investing $350 million in its Livonia Transmission Plant, adding a new transmission to expand its lineup of
fuel-efficient powertrains as part of the company’s plan to fortify its core automotive business.
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Ford is investing $350 million in its Livonia Transmission Plant, adding a new transmission to expand its lineup of
fuel-efficient powertrains as part of the company’s plan to fortify its core automotive business. The investment also includes
the creation and protection of 800 hourly jobs. (Photo: Business Wire)
The company will create or retain 800 hourly jobs to support production of the new transmission. Ford expects to begin adding
jobs late this year, with the majority coming next year and in 2019.
“We remain committed to American manufacturing and investing in our people and facilities,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president,
The Americas. “Even as the industry’s largest employer of hourly workers in the United States and biggest producer of American-made
vehicles, we believe it is important to continue investing right here in our home market.”
In the past four months alone, Ford has announced more than $2.25 billion in new investments in Michigan. The company has
invested $12 billion in its U.S. plants and created a total of nearly 28,000 U.S. jobs during the last five years.
This investment in Livonia Transmission Plant is in addition to $1.4 billion and 500 created or retained hourly jobs announced for the plant in 2016 to support production of a new 10-speed transmission for the 2017 F-150 Raptor
and certain other F-150 trucks.
Ford’s investments are supported by a strong partnership with the UAW, as well as with federal, state, county and local
governments.
“Today’s announcement of investment at the Livonia Transmission Plant is further evidence of the benefits of collective
bargaining and the ongoing commitment of UAW-Ford to lead the way in creating and maintaining automotive manufacturing jobs in
America,” said Jimmy Settles, UAW vice president. “The addition of these 800 jobs will add job security for the plant’s hardworking
men and women, and support for the surrounding community.”
Transmission innovation
The investment supports production of a new, advanced transmission for front-wheel-drive vehicles. This transmission will
provide customers better-performing, more fuel-efficient vehicles. It will share software, design elements and manufacturing
processes with the 10-speed and other future transmissions.
The transmission will be finely tuned to blend fun driving and efficiency with Ford engines, including EcoBoost®.
Most applications will use a common microprocessor with more than 4 million lines of code controlling both engine and
transmission.
Ford continues leading the industry in combining downsized EcoBoost engine technologies with advanced transmissions and
lightweighting innovations. For example, the F-150’s V6 lineup matched to the truck’s aluminum body now accounts for more than 75
percent of its sales. Ford’s 1.0-liter EcoBoost has held the title of World’s Best Engine for five years running.
Livonia Transmission Plant
Livonia Transmission Plant employs approximately 1,800 people. It builds six-speed and 10-speed transmissions used in a number
of vehicles including Mustang, F-150, Transit and Expedition.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global automotive and mobility company based in Dearborn, Michigan. With about
202,000 employees and 62 plants worldwide, the company’s core business includes designing, manufacturing, marketing and servicing a
full line of Ford cars, trucks and SUVs, as well as Lincoln luxury vehicles. To expand its business model, Ford is aggressively
pursuing emerging opportunities with investments in electrification, autonomy and mobility. Ford provides financial services
through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products and services, please visit www.corporate.ford.com .
For news releases, related materials and high-resolution photos and video, visit www.media.ford.com.
Ford Motor Company
Kelli Felker
313.322.1790
kfelker1@ford.com
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