Ford's 2011 Ford
Explorer
Brings 1,200 Jobs To
Chicago
Ford will produce the next-generation Explorer SUV
at its Chicago Assembly Plant beginning in the fourth quarter of this year, bringing approximately 1,200 new jobs
to the Chicago region
- Ford will invest nearly $400 million in its Chicago Assembly and Chicago
Stamping plants to launch production of the Explorer
- The next-generation Explorer will feature significant fuel economy gains of
at least 25 percent over the current-model Explorer thanks to EcoBoost engine technology, six-speed
transmissions and a unibody construction
- Ford has sold more than 6 million Explorers since the vehicle was originally
launched in 1990; Explorer has been America’s best-selling midsize SUV for 15 of the past 19 years
CHICAGO, Jan. 26, 2010 – Ford Motor Company today announced it will produce the
next-generation Ford Explorer SUV at the company’s Chicago Assembly Plant beginning in the fourth quarter of this
year.
Ford is investing nearly $400 million in its Chicago manufacturing facilities to
launch production of the new, fuel-efficient Ford Explorer. The company also will add 1,200 new jobs to staff a
second production shift at Chicago Assembly Plant and increase production at the nearby Chicago Stamping
Plant.
The next-generation Explorer will be built at the Chicago Assembly Plant on a
flexible assembly line alongside the new Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS sedans. Ford’s $400 million investment
includes approximately $180 million in manufacturing investment at the Chicago sites and about $220 million for
launch and engineering costs. In addition, Ford will be making significant investment in supplier tooling to
support next-generation Explorer production.
“The new Explorer will redefine the SUV for the modern era – retaining the
capability customers want while delivering superb fuel efficiency, comfort and convenience,” said Mark Fields,
Ford’s president of The Americas. “This investment underscores Ford’s commitment to building world-class,
fuel-efficient vehicles in America and creating new jobs that will contribute to our nation’s economic
recovery.”
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