Ford plans to create 2,000 jobs in Michigan by pumping $2 billion into three of the state's assembly plants, the automaker announced Wednesday.
It's part of a broader plan for midwestern investment. From The Wall Street Journal:
Ford plans to add 6,200 union manufacturing jobs and invest $3.7 billion into plants in Michigan, Ohio and Missouri, as it looks to expand vehicle production and prepare for coming labor talks.
Ford has cleaved its conventional gas-engine business from its electric-vehicle operations, a major restructuring that marked a divergence from competitors, such as Stellantis, that say they plan to keep these divisions together. The $3.7 billion investment would support both sides of the company, Ford said.
The Dearborn, Mich., auto maker said it would also convert 3,000 temporary workers to full-time, a significant workforce shift that comes in advance of the formal negotiations scheduled with the United Auto Workers union for 2023. Additionally, all hourly employees will receive healthcare benefits on their first day of work, Ford said.
Ford says the Michigan investments will boost production of the F-150 Lightning at the Ford Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, equip the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne to produce a new Ranger pickup, and the Flat Rock Assembly Plant to produce the new Mustang coupe.
The plan comes a year after the company opted to build battery factories in Kentucky and Tennessee.
Michigan's governor tweets from the Mackinac Policy Conference:
Today, we’re coming together to celebrate another huge bipartisan win for Michigan. @Ford is investing over $2B to create over 3,200 good-paying jobs across Southeast Michigan. Michigan is on the move. #MPC22 pic.twitter.com/wwLvIGD54x
— Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) June 2, 2022
