Ford expands EV production team and factories for electric F-150 and eTransit

American automotive giant Ford Motor Company is to hire an additional 350 employees and invest $US100 million to expand production capacity of its all-electric F-150 and all-new E-Transit.

Ford’s wide-ranging plans are all part of a larger $US3.2 billion build out of the company’s North American manufacturing facilities which will allow production of a new series of new electric vehicles for both commercial and retail customers.

These include the recently-announced all-electric F-150, set to come to market in mid-2022, and the E-Transit, a zero-emission version of the Transit which is due to be revealed this week.

Meanwhile, the Ford Mustang Mach-E, unveiled earlier this year, is set to arrive in American showrooms next month. Together, all three vehicles are the first out of the gates as part of Ford’s $US11.5 billion-plus investment in electrification through 2022, which plans to electrify the company’s most iconic and popular vehicles.

“We’re taking our most iconic vehicles and using fully electric technology to deliver even more performance, productivity and capability for customers,” said Kumar Galhotra, president, Americas and International Markets Group.

“We are building out the North American manufacturing footprint to support this growth. This is just the first chapter with more new electric vehicles and more investment to come.”

The new investments in the company’s electrification strategy announced this week include investing an additional $US100 million into Ford’s Kansas City Assembly Plant and the addition of 150 new full-time jobs to begin producing the E-Transit.

Ford’s newly announced $US100 million investment is in addition to the $US300 million the company already invested at the Kansas factory for the production of the all-electric F-150.

“Ford’s strategy is different – we are delivering affordable, capable electric vehicles in the heart of the retail and commercial market rather than six-figure status vehicles,” Galhotra said. “With a stunning Mustang Mach-E crossover, an all-electric F-150 and the new E-Transit, our first wave of EVs in North America will introduce a whole new generation to EVs.”

The company is investing a further $US150 million at its Van Dyke Transmission Plant in Southeast Michigan to begin building electric motors and e-transaxles, beginning in 2021. This investment will serve to retain 225 jobs at the Dearborn plant.

Further, following strong early interest in the all-electric F-150 since the vehicle was unveiled in September, the company is increasing production plans by 50% and will add 200 new jobs, in addition to the 300 previously announced jobs, which will focus on producing the new electric F-150.

Ford is also investing a further $US1.35 billion to transform its Oakville Assembly Complex in Ontario, Canada, beginning in 2024, to include nex-generation battery-electric vehicles (BEV).

This Canadian investment marks the first time ever that an automaker has produced full BEVs in Canada for the North American Market.

Ford is also planning to produce an additional electrified vehicle at its Cuautitlan plant in Mexico, where the Mustang Mach-E is already produced. According to the company’s announcement, the new unspecified vehicle will share a similar electrified platform as the Mustang Mach-E, therefore delivering manufacturing and engineering efficiencies.

“Our electric vehicle business is a dynamic source of growth,” says John Savona, vice president, North American manufacturing. “We’re setting ourselves up for profitable business now and in the future.”