Ford announced yesterday that it will be moving production of the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator from its Wayne, Mich., facility to an existing plant in Louisville, Ky., to make room for production of a new small car, possibly to be based on the Focus. Getting the plant ready by Ford’s projected date of 2010 will require a $75 million investment.
The truck plant is one of three in North America that Ford is preparing to produce globally designed small cars. They are not alone. Earlier this week, GM received millions in tax breaks from the city of Flint, Mich., as it prepares to invest $359 million to get a plant there ready to build the 1.4-liter Ecotec engine that will power the Chevrolet Volt and Cruze when they enter production in 2010. GM also announced it will be investing $500 million in its Lordstown, Ohio plant, which currently builds the Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 to gear up for the Cruze.
Ford will begin its plant conversion in November. The 1,000 employees who currently work there will be moving to the nearby facility that builds the Focus, as Ford says it needs an additional crew to keep up with demand for the small car.