The manufacturer announced today that as soon as the last Escape rolled off the assembly lines, a team of engineers would move in and, with the help of the $400 million set aside for the plant, would begin retooling the facility to get it ready for the production of a new, for now unnamed model.
For the workers at the plant, today's decision means that 3,750 jobs will be saved (including those needed to manufacture the Ford F-150 on a separate line), meaning pretty much the entire workforce.
"This investment and promise of a new vehicle to be built in Kansas City reinforces Ford's commitment to U.S. manufacturing and American jobs," said Mark Fields, Ford president of The Americas.
"Investing in our plants, products and people is critical to Ford's ability to compete with the best in the business. Ford is committed to doing everything it takes to work with its partners, including the United Auto Workers, to remain competitive."
The decision made by Ford did not come without a little nudge from the state of Missouri. Being a corporation, Ford needs to think about profit, and the tax incentives provided by the 2010 Missouri Manufacturing Jobs Act sure helped the car maker in making the decision.
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