Ford announced that it is boosting production of all-electric vehicles at its Flat Rock Assembly plant in southeast Michigan as part of a $900 million investment in operations in the state.
The US carmaker said in a news release it will invest over $850 million in the Flat Rock Assembly Plant through 2023.
The move, set to create 900 new jobs, comes after the company had ”taken a fresh look” at the growth in electric vehicles. In January, Ford said it wants 40 hybrid and all-electric cars in its model line-up by 2022.
The Flat Rock plant investment also includes funding for production of the next-generation Mustang.
“We’ve taken a fresh look at the growth rates of electrified vehicles and know we need to protect additional production capacity given our accelerated plans for fully electric vehicles,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford’s president, Global Operations.
“This is good news for the future of southeast Michigan, delivering more good-paying manufacturing jobs.”
Ford also revealed that it intends to begin production of autonomous vehicles in 2021 for “deployment in commercial services” to move people and goods.
“As we ramp up AV production, this plan allows us to adjust our investment spending to accommodate the pace of growth of this exciting new technology,” Hinrichs said.
“This new plan combines our core strength in mass manufacturing with the agility and leanness we’ve shown with our modification centers for specialty manufacturing.”
The automaker also said that it will begin production of its next-generation North American Transit Connect small commercial and passenger van in Mexico starting in 2021.
Ford says that these moves are part of its “commitment to continuously find ways to boost its global competitiveness.”
“We continue driving to find new and better ways to boost our fitness as a company and one of the world’s leading manufacturers,” Hinrichs said. “Working together with our employees, union partners and government officials around the world, we are continuing to unlock new solutions to deliver world-class vehicles people want and value even more efficiently.”