Ford to Transform SUV Plant Into Green Car Factory
Posted in: electric car, electric vehicle, Ford, hybrid, Today's Chili
And the big ship begins to turn. Following an announcement on Monday that Ford plans to accelerate its hybrid and plug-in car development comes word that the automaker is investing $550 million to convert the Michigan Assembly Plant–formerly known as the Michigan Truck Plant–from truck and SUV production to a modern, flexible small car plant.
Following the transformation, the plant will produce both the next-generation Ford Focus as well as a zero-emissions, battery electric version of the car. The latter is being
developed in partnership with Magna International, and will showcase a
high-voltage electric motor powered by a lithium ion battery pack–one that can be charged simply by plugging in to a 110-volt or 220-volt outlet.
The company said in a statement that the $550 million investment will help support 3,200 manufacturing jobs. It also said it hopes to rub off some of the plant’s former high-profit magic during the 1990s SUV boom onto smaller, greener vehicle production throughout the next decade.
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