According to the carmaker, 220 new jobs will be created as a result. People working in Dearborn will design the battery pack for the respective vehicles, while those located in Livonia will be in charge of developing electric-drive transaxles for the C- and CD-car platforms.
“Electrified vehicles are a key part of our plan to offer a full lineup of green vehicles, and we are building a center of excellence in the U.S., here in Michigan, to keep Ford on the cutting edge,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of The Americas. “Today’s announcement is another important step in our larger strategy to launch a family of hybrids, plug-in hybrids and full electric vehicles around the world.”
Starting with 2012, the year when Ford expects to begin rolling out the new generation hybrids and EVs, the Rawsonville plant in Ypsilanti will start assembling the battery packs. This means the relocation of the work currently done in Mexico. The facility will see its workforce increased by 170 people.
“I am proud of the tremendous success of the UAW and Ford in working together to keep good manufacturing jobs in the U.S.,” Bob King, UAW vice president, National Ford Department added.
“We are pleased that both Rawsonville and Van Dyke Transmission have been selected to produce these important components for Ford's next generation hybrid-electric vehicles. These new products will help the community and local economy in Michigan by creating 170 new direct jobs at Ford and hundreds of other supporting jobs in the community, while helping to reduce emissions that cause air pollution and global warming.”
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