Ford Invests Additional $450M on Electric Vehicles
DETROIT - Ford Motor Co. is investing an additional $450 million in its aggressive electric vehicle plan, paving the way to build a next-generation hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicle in Michigan beginning in 2012, the automaker announced.
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Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Mich., will be the production site of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and full battery electric vehicles, all of which will be built off the company's new global C-car platform.
In addition to building the Ford Focus Electric and next-generation hybrid and plug-in hybrid at Michigan Assembly Plant, Ford will design advanced lithium-ion battery systems in-house for the next-generation hybrid in Michigan and move production of the battery packs from Mexico to Michigan. The production site will be announced at a later date.
Ford also announced it will produce hybrid transaxles at its Van Dyke Transmission facility in Sterling Heights, Mich., beginning in 2012.
The Michigan Economic Growth Authority board recently approved a package of incentives and tax credits totaling $188 million, which includes job credits, brownfield site credits, and battery pack assembly credits.
Ford plans to bring the following electrified vehicles to market over the next three years:
- Ford Transit Connect battery electric vehicle commercial van (2010).
- Ford Focus Electric passenger car (2011).
- Next-generation hybrid based on C-car platform (2012).
- Plug-in hybrid based on C-car platform (2012).
