Ford Converts Michigan Truck Plant

Ford

Ford ended production at the Michigan Truck Plant so that they can retool the facility and offer more fuel efficient vehicles. The last vehicle rolled out of the assembly line today, at 1:30 P.M, and this signals a new beginning for the Truck Plant.

“Ford is committed to delivering a balanced product lineup for our consumers,” said Joe Hinrichs, group vice president, Global Manufacturing and Labor Affairs. “The conversion of Michigan Truck Plant represents another step in our transformation plan to meet market demand for smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles.”

The Michigan Truck Plant opened in 1957 and during its 50 years of operation it produced vehicles like the F-Series trucks, the Ford Bronco, Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator.

The Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator will be moved to the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, Ky., awaiting to begin production again in the second quarter of 2009.

“This great workforce produced quality vehicles up to the very last one they built,” said Mike Torolski, plant manager. “We now are focused on our next phase – converting the truck plant to a car plant to begin producing global C-car based vehicles in 2010.”

In 2005, Ford invested $300 million in Michigan Truck to build a new production line and this move  helped the conversion of the factory that now includes a body shop among other new things.

This plant is one of the three that For plans to convert to build small cars that share the same platform. The other two include the Cuautitlan (Mexico) Assembly currently producing F-series pickups and the Louisville Assembly, home of the Ford Explorer mid-size SUV.