Ford to make battery packs, hybrid transmissions at Michigan plants

[boomerbust]

Source: AP

DETROIT - Two Ford Motor Co. factories near Detroit will see 170 additional jobs in the next two years as the automaker brings battery pack and gas-electric hybrid transmission assembly to the United States.

The company said Monday it will create a "centre of excellence" for electric vehicle development in the Detroit area, and it intends to add more than 50 engineers to work on the next generation of electric vehicles.

Ford said it will invest $135 million by 2012 at factories in Ypsilanti Township and Sterling Heights, Mich., to design, engineer and produce components for its next generation of hybrids and fully electric vehicles.

Currently a supplier makes complex hybrid transmissions for Ford in Japan, while battery packs are assembled in Mexico, the company said.


Read more: http://www.brandonsun.com/business/breaking-news/ford-to-invest-135-million-in--michigan-factories-creating-230-jobs-94730604.html?viewAllComments=y

[HopeHoops]

1. K&R - Reversing the trend!

:woohoo:

Now maybe we can get WalMart to start selling at least a few US made products.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Sorry, I know that was a silly thought.

[amandabeech]

2. Well, it's a start.

Fourteen an hour isn't much, but with the cost of housing in the area now, it might be a livable wage.

I really like the fact that these two forward technologies are being brought back to Ford's core area in Michigan from overseas. If things go well, perhaps the Ford Fusion plants will be brought back to Michigan from Mexico, particularly the Ford Fusion hybrid line.

Ypsilanti is next door to Ann Arbor, home of the University of Michigan. U-M has one of the best automotive engineering programs in the country, and the rest of the engineering, technology and science programs are very good, too.

[harmonicon]

6. the engineers are there, but they aren't utilized

I have a cousin (U of M grad) who was an engineer for Ford in the 90's. She eventually quit - with no other job prospects - out of frustration. Engineers like her who were suggesting innovative ideas were dismissed outright - the entire focus was on churning out the exact same product for as long as possible by maximizing profits on trucks and SUVs. If Ford and its Detroit brethren had listened to their young engineers decades ago, the US auto industry wouldn't be nearly as fucked as it is now.

This move by Ford seems to be on the right track, and I'm glad that things seem to be picking up for them, but I have no confidence in these companies to not run themselves into the ground again.

[amandabeech]

8. At the moment, they are desperate.

Desperate people often do desperate things, like make changes.

Mulally doesn't seem to be as afraid of innovation as some of the other folks who have run auto companies. He comes from Boeing where he turned the place around.

Unfortunately, he is also a big fan of outsourcing, which is one reason why the popular and highly rated Fusion, which is available in a hybrid, is made in Mexico.

People are still buying trucks and SUVs but gas prices have this tendency to wander up to $3 a gallon, which does limit the attraction of the big vehicles, especially the extra-large SUVs. The smaller SUVs are still popular, though. The Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner are popular and are available in a hybrid.

I have more faith in him than I've had in an auto person for some time.

I'm from the state and one of my uncles retired from the GM line.

I hope that your cousin has found something better.

[defendandprotect]

3. 60 or a 100 years too late -- but better than never . . .!!

[Dappleganger]

4. Giant KICK

investing in these battery packs is a GOOD THING!

[comtec]

5. we'll see...

the chinese yuan is rapidly growing in value, so starting these business back home makes economical sense. sadly I fear no other thought went into it than that.

but still.. yay.

now many they can start making lighter cars to put on the roads so that they can go longer on a charge. city cars have no business being SUVs like we have now.

oh well... my two cents.

BTW Wish me luck... with any, i'll be gettin transferred back to the US within my company (the up shot being that i'll be able to live with my boyfriend - YAY!)

[pruple]

7. K&R, good news

[Vinca]

9. Astonishing that making stuff for American cars in America is news.

[DimplesinMI]

10. Ford Motor Company investment of 135 million dollars will add Southeastern Michigan jobs by 2012

Source: Examiner.com

Welcome news from the automobile industry occurred this morning as Ford Motor Company announced that it will invest $135 million dollars into two Southeastern Michigan factories. The plants will design and build parts for future green based and electronic vehicles. The investment will create 170 production jobs and another 50 engineering positions by 2012. Ford Motor Company declaration makes the second announcement to add manufacturing jobs to the region in the past week.

Read more: http://www.examiner.com/x-48896-Detroit-Job-Search-Examiner~y2010m5d24-Ford-Motor-Company-investment-of-135-million-dollars-will-add-Southeastern-Michigan-jobs-by-2012

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More good news for Southeastern Michigan!!

[KillCapitalism]

11. Great news! n/t

[gateley]

12. K&R! nt