Ford is preparing to make a $9.2 billion investment south of the border, according to a leaked document published in the Oakland Press Wednesday. The news comes just days after BusinessWeek reported that the next-generation Ford Focus would be built in Mexico, and Leftlane brought you spy shots of the Euro Focus in testing in the country. “Governors and others who want to get work in their states are courting us. We have no intention or plans of (sic) give them work,” the document says.
The document said Mexico offers an “opportunity to further leverage Ford of Mexico cost advantage and location to reduce corporate fixed costs. [...] Mexico is ready – fast and reliable solution and an established organization with proven capabilities to build from. [...] We will leverage our global scale like never before and Mexico is a key partner as we’re targeting lower fixed costs, better quality and speed to deliver our Way Forward plans,” the document said.
A Ford spokesperson could not confirm the existence of the document, and said he has not seen it.
06/14, 6:34 PM
posted by:
Ahk-Med
While Toyota and Honda build new plants in the US. Who were the “domestic” manufactureres again?
06/14, 6:38 PM
posted by:
1c3d0g
Let me refresh your memory, since you seem to be having quite a struggle with temporary amnesia: General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler.
06/14, 6:41 PM
posted by:
Renton
It’s that” enormous sucking sound” Perot was talking about years ago. If I was an American car company, I ‘d rather leave the counrty than deal with the UAW.
06/14, 7:22 PM
posted by:
Sean
Who cares. After all, its really only working-class Americans who are losing their jobs to outsourcing.
06/14, 8:15 PM
posted by:
Atomicbri
LOL! Buy American or buy Mexican? I agree with Number #1 and wonder who is “domestic”? While GM and Ford are outsourcing jobs and all, Tioyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai and maybe even Kia will be building more plants and operating current plants here hiring American workers and providing jobs to Americans….. ALl the while GM and Ford are moving jobs out of America….hmmm….Buy American?? OK! Make my next car a Honda or Toyota then!
06/14, 8:33 PM
posted by:
dubTwo
read the article this morning… its fantastic to hear Ford is trying to improve itself by closing 8 plants in the USA by 2008. That shows they care about the American auto-workers. You think the UAW would get their heads out of their asses and realize they caused the problem and are going to be screwed in the end. I will continue to buy Honda Accords which are more than 80% produced in the USA.
06/15, 4:56 AM
posted by:
animal
I can confirm that several colleagues from FMC in the UK have been to Mexico to look at Mk2 Focus production.
06/15, 8:41 AM
posted by:
grs
Meanwhile, the profits from your Hondas go back to Japan (another big sucking sound).
Don’t forget that there’s more to “making” a car than assembling them, and very little of that happens in the US outside of GM, Ford and Chrysler. The “big 2-1/2″ still employ way more jobs in the US than all the Asians and Europeans.
06/15, 12:14 PM
posted by:
Ahk-Med
Profits from these publicly traded companies don’t “go back to Japan”, they go to shareholders. Yes, a mojority of the shareholders may be Japanese, but I suggest you check your 401k. You might be a sharholder in the Japanese auto companies… Would you hate yourself for that?
06/21, 10:47 AM
posted by:
Toad
My Toyota is far more domestic than some of GMs current models. People need to do their research – GM currently markets at least 3 Korean made vehicles, along with Fords Mexican cars. Buy GMs Korean cars, and Fords Mexican cars over my Toyota made in the US? No way… You also need to remember it’s not just plant jobs being supported – there are also sales people and mechanics being employeed by these so called “Imported” companies. They are no longer Imports.