- Ford’s Kansas City Assembly Plant will add more than 2,000 jobs to support high demand for Ford F-150 plus the planned production of the all-new Transit family of commercial vehicles starting next summer; more than 1,000 will be new hires
- Ford F-Series sales up 24 percent in April and 19 percent year to date; full-size truck segment growing three times faster than industry average and is fastest-growing segment this year
- Ford has reached 75 percent of its goal to create 12,000 hourly jobs in the U.S. by 2015
KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 2, 2013 – Ford, the industry’s truck
leader, will add more than 2,000 jobs at its Kansas City Assembly Plant
to meet surging demand for the Ford F-150 and planned production of the
all-new Ford Transit.
“Customer demand for today’s F-150 is strong and continues growing,
the truck segment is growing three times faster than the overall
industry, the housing market is strengthening, and we are seeing growth
in the U.S. economy,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford’s president of The
Americas. “Our ‘Built Ford Tough’ F-150 is America’s favorite pickup,
and we are going to expand operations in Kansas City to ensure we have
enough trucks to meet customer demand.”
Ford is adding 900 jobs and a third crew in the third quarter to
build F-150. U.S. sales of Ford’s F-Series trucks increased 24 percent
in April and 19 percent year to date. Ford also is adding another 1,100
jobs starting in the fourth quarter to prepare for the introduction of
the all-new Ford Transit full-size van in 2014.
“For customers who want a modern van that is as tough and smart as
the F-Series, the all-new Ford Transit van delivers, with better fuel
economy, more capability and the greatest number of technology choices
and innovative configurations full-size van buyers have ever seen,”
Hinrichs said.
Kansas City Assembly
Kansas City Assembly Plant produces the Ford F-150 Regular, Super
and Crew Cab and will produce the Ford Transit. The plant currently has
2,450 hourly workers working on two shifts and will add a third crew in
the third quarter.
Ford is investing $1.1 billion to retool and expand the facility
for production of both the F-150 and Transit, including a 437,000
sq.-ft. stamping facility and a 78,000 sq.-ft. paint shop.
The new stamping facility was completed in 2012. The paint shop
expansion will include installation of the three-wet paint process,
which is more environmentally friendly and requires less time than
conventional paint processes – without compromising Ford’s paint quality
or durability.
“Today we celebrate the commitment to excellence displayed every
day by the men and women of Kansas City Assembly Plant," said Jimmy
Settles, UAW vice president and director of the National Ford
Department. “These additional jobs are the direct result of the
dedicated effort our UAW members display every day at facilities all
across the country and serve as another reminder of the resilience of
American workers and our nation's manufacturing sector.”
With the investment and new jobs in Kansas City, Ford is
three-quarters of the way to its plan to create 12,000 hourly jobs in
the U.S. by 2015. The company also is investing $16 billion in its U.S.
product development and manufacturing operations – including $6.2
billion in plant-specific investments. These actions, including today's
announcements, are consistent with Ford’s previous 2013 financial
guidance for the Total Company and North America.
Community Impact
The plant expansion has a major impact in the local community and
beyond. Kansas City Assembly has more than 250 suppliers nationally and
more than 10 suppliers locally who will positively benefit from the
addition of a third crew. Additionally, when Transit production starts
next year, close to 275 suppliers nationally and six suppliers locally
will grow their business. According to the job multiplier effect of nine
jobs to every one – more than 18,000 jobs will be created to support
the plant.
“Today’s announcement is yet another testament to our successful
efforts to revitalize Missouri’s automotive manufacturing industry,
which continues to gain steam,” Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon said. “This
third crew for production of the F-150 will create hundreds of
additional manufacturing jobs for workers in this region and ensure
Missouri continues to lead the rebirth of the American auto industry for
years to come.”
Ford F-150
The “Built Ford Tough” F-150 delivers the segment’s best combination of power, capability, safety and fuel economy.
F-150 is part of the Ford F-Series lineup. Now in its 65th
year, F-Series has been the best-selling truck in America for 36
consecutive years, the best-selling vehicle in America for 31
consecutive years and the brand with the most trucks on the road with
more than 250,000 miles, as certified by Polk.
The Kansas City-built F-150 is the first choice for tradespeople
who need the most durable, advanced in the market truck. For example,
F-150 leads in a variety of fields, including:
- 62 percent market share in road and highway maintenance
- 68 percent share in hazardous materials work
- 67 percent share in the oil pipeline industry
F-150 also boasts leading safety ratings. F-150’s fully boxed
frame, made from high-strength hydroformed steel, provides a backbone
built for increased durability and safety. F-150 has earned top safety
ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Overall, F-150 offers customers the broadest lineup in the segment,
with 10 models that include work-ready XL, sporty and capable FX,
well-balanced XLT, refined and luxurious Limited and the no-compromise
off-road SVT Raptor.
The Ford F-150 also features an unrivaled four engine choices,
including the advanced 3.5-liter EcoBoost, to help customers find the
most fuel-efficient and capable engine to meet their needs. Ford’s
patented EcoBoost engine delivers an unmatched combination of
best-in-class towing and payload, torque and fuel economy. More than
300,000 EcoBoost engines have been sold for F-150 and it is now Ford’s
best-selling truck engine.
Ford Transit
The familiar van that delivers packages or shuttles airport
passengers is about to change in a revolutionary way. The all-new Ford
Transit will provide tradespeople and businesses with unmatched fuel
economy, innovative new configurations and leading versatility in the
expanding commercial vehicle market.
Transit is born from nearly a century of hard-earned experience
delivering two distinct full-size vans to customers in America, Europe
and other global markets. For the U.S., Transit eventually replaces
E-Series, first sold in 1961 as Ford Econoline and America’s
best-selling commercial van for 34 years. Transit was first sold in
1965. It’s the best-selling commercial van in Europe.
Customers will have more choices than ever from a Ford van. Transit
will be offered in three body lengths; two wheelbases; three roof
heights. Cargo volume ranges from about 250 to almost 500 cubic feet –
more than twice the volume of today’s standard E-Series, saving the
customer fuel costs and the time and hassle of a second trip.
Designed and developed to provide efficient service over the long
haul, Ford Transit will be at least 25 percent more fuel efficient than
today’s E-Series, helping save Transit owners thousands of dollars in
fuel costs during its service life.
Transit has been tested to the “Built Ford Tough” truck standards
at Ford’s proving grounds and in the hands of real-world fleet customers
in North America.
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