DETROIT — Ford Motor said Tuesday that it would build its next-generation small car for U.S. consumers in China rather than Mexico, where the automaker canceled plans for a new factory this year. ADVERTISING DETROIT — Ford Motor said Tuesday
DETROIT — Ford Motor said Tuesday that it would build its next-generation small car for U.S. consumers in China rather than Mexico, where the automaker canceled plans for a new factory this year.
The shift of production of the Ford Focus to China was among a number of manufacturing moves announced by the company, and one of the first strategic steps taken by its new chief executive, Jim Hackett.
Ford said it would begin making the Focus in China for global markets in 2019, after production ends at its current location in Michigan.
The company was building a $1.6 billion assembly plant for the next Focus model in Mexico, but it ran into stiff opposition from President Donald Trump and then canceled the project.
Ford, the nation’s second-largest automaker behind General Motors, also said Tuesday that it would invest $900 million in a Kentucky plant to produce new versions of its Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator sport utility vehicles. The company said the investment would preserve 1,000 jobs at the plant.
GM also imports cars from China to the U.S. market, notably the Buick Envision, a compact crossover. But Ford’s commitment to the Focus represents a far greater volume of production.
Ford shares were down 0.5 percent in morning trading.
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