Production switching from big SUVs to small cars

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Auto Trader NZ
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Published 3 September 2020

Ford’s global manufacturing boss, Joe Hinrichs, says converting the Michigan Truck Plant to a car factory is “another step in our transformation plan to meet market demand for smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles.”

The Michigan Truck Plant opened in 1957 as the Wayne Station Wagon Plant, and in 51 years has built F-Series trucks, the Ford Bronco, Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator. It built 2.3 million Expeditions and Navigators which will now be produced by the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, starting in the second quarter of 2009.

Michigan Truck is one of three truck and SUV factories Ford is converting to build small fuel-efficient vehicles.

The Cuautitlan factory in Mexico will switch from making F-Series pick-ups to Fiesta superminis, with production starting in 2010.

Louisville Assembly, which builds the Ford Explorer mid-size SUV, will build Global C-cars from 2011.