Ford invests $850 million to produce next-gen electric vehicles in the US

Ford has announced today new investments in its US facilities for future production of next-generation electric vehicles as well as Ford’s first autonomous vehicles.

The Ford Mustang-inspired electric SUV that we reported on earlier today is going to be the automaker’s first real EV next year, but it will be manufactured in Mexico.

Now the automaker also wants to bring some EV production to the US and it announced today that it will happen with a $850 million investment through 2023 at its Flat Rock (Mich.) Assembly Plant.

Here are the series of investments announced today:

• Ford is investing approximately $900 million in its southeast Michigan manufacturing footprint and targeting 900 incremental direct new jobs through 2023
• This includes the company’s plan to expand production capacity at Flat Rock (Mich.) Assembly Plant – including next-generation fully electric vehicles – targeting to invest more than $850 million through 2023 and adding a second shift
• Southeast Michigan workers also will make Ford’s first autonomous vehicles starting in 2021; Ford also is investing in an Autonomous Vehicle center where employees will install the vehicles’ unique self-driving technology and unique interiors
•  Ford also is building its next-generation North American Transit Connect in North America in 2021, boosting program profits and regional content – in line with the proposed United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)

Joe Hinrichs, Ford’s president, Global Operations, commented on the announcement:

“We’ve taken a fresh look at the growth rates of electrified vehicles and know we need to protect additional production capacity given our accelerated plans for fully electric vehicles. This is good news for the future of southeast Michigan, delivering more good-paying manufacturing jobs.”

Hinrichs also commented on plans to bring autonomous vehicles to production:

“As we ramp up AV production, this plan allows us to adjust our investment spending to accommodate the pace of growth of this exciting new technology. This new plan combines our core strength in mass manufacturing with the agility and leanness we’ve shown with our modification centers for specialty manufacturing.”

Ford didn’t specify what those next-gen electric vehicles will be, but the automaker recently said that it will make an all-electric F-Series pickup truck.

At the Flat Rock (Mich.) Assembly Plant, Ford currently manufactures the Mustang coupe and the tenth generation Lincoln Continental.