USA - Limited run of 300 Ford F-150 MVP edition trucks built at Kansas City Assembly Plant.

• Limited run of 300 Ford F-150 MVP edition trucks built at Kansas City Assembly Plant
• Suggested by a Ford customer, 2016 Ford F-150 MVP edition follows the 1986 Ford Ranger MVP edition – first time Kansas City celebrated a professional baseball world championship
• Midwest Ford Dealers renewed its sponsorship for the 2016 season with Kansas City Royals

Ford, America’s truck leader, salutes Kansas City’s world championship by announcing a limited run of 300 Ford F-150 MVP edition trucks built at Kansas City Assembly Plant.

Based on the F-150 XLT with chrome package and available in either Oxford White or Blue Flame, F-150 MVP edition includes special MVP badging, unique polished stainless rocker panels and a spray-in bedliner. 

The 2016 Ford F-150 MVP edition started as an idea from Marc Lassalle, a Kansas City Royals fan, to celebrate his team’s second world championship. It follows the 1986 Ford Ranger MVP edition, created and sold in 1985 to celebrate Kansas City’s first time as world champions.  

“Like our manufacturing team members at Kansas City Assembly Plant, the Kansas City Royals are a great example of what terrific teamwork can accomplish,” said Gary Johnson, Ford vice president for North America manufacturing.

F-150 MVP edition customizations are added at Kansas City’s unique SubTropolis underground business complex, where Ford applies custom accessories to its vehicles in the energy-efficient cave system.

Ford worked with former Kansas City Royals star Bret Saberhagen, from the 1985 team roster, and Salvador Pérez, from the 2015 Kansas City lineup, to promote the F-150 MVP edition.

Saberhagen will be on hand today to greet Kansas City Assembly Plant employees. Midwest Ford Dealers has also renewed its sponsorship agreement with the Kansas City Royals for 2016.

The F-150 MVP edition is on sale now at Kansas City area Ford dealers.

USA - Over half of commercial van sales in the US in the first six months of 2015 bought a Ford van.

• More than half of commercial van customers in the United States in the first six months of 2015 bought a Ford van – Transit, Transit Connect or E-Series
• Ford is the fastest-growing brand in the commercial van market, driving 80 percent of the segment’s growth in the first half of 2015, according to Ford analysis of new vehicle registrations from IHS Automotive
• Top-selling commercial van in 47 states is a Ford van

Growing businesses are increasingly turning to Ford commercial vans, making Ford the largest and fastest-growing manufacturer of commercial vans in the United States in the first half of 2015, according to Ford analysis of IHS new vehicle registrations through June.

Ford vans have been America’s best-selling commercial vans for 36 years, helping businesses transport equipment to job sites, shuttle passengers to their destinations and more. 

The new Transit, which went on sale just last summer, can be converted to serve as emergency response vehicles, food trucks and mobile dog grooming studios.

Businesses can choose from 58 vehicle configurations with the introduction of a dual sliding door option on the 2016 Transit van, meaning the vehicle with the most configurations in its class just got even more flexible.

“Transit customers appreciate the van’s flexibility because it can enable them to right-size their vehicle to the needs of their vocation.” says Yaro Hetman, Ford brand manager for Transit, Transit Connect and E-Series. 

“There are 12 ship-through upfitters located within 30 miles of Kansas City Assembly Plant, making it easy and fast for customers to design their Transit vans to serve their business requirements.”

Transit sales success has led Ford to capture 56 percent of the U.S. commercial van market as of June 2015 – up from 48 percent in June 2014, according to IHS new commercial vehicle registration data.

Commercial van sales are increasing as the U.S. economy is growing, and Ford vans drove 80 percent of growth in the segment in the first half of the year, according to Ford analysis of IHS data.

Ford commercial van sales increased 28 percent January through June, while the segment overall grew 11 percent.

Ford vans are top sellers in 47 states, according to Ford analysis of IHS data. Those 47 states represent 99.09% of the U.S. population.

Ford Transit became the best-selling full-size van in America just six months after it went on sale, replacing America’s best-selling van for 35 years, E-Series, first sold in 1961 as Ford Econoline. 

For the 2015 model year, Ford produced more than 100,000 Transit vans, wagons, cutaways and chassis cabs at Kansas City Assembly Plant.

Ford Transit Connect, America’s small commercial van pioneer, has been on sale since 2009 and has reigned as the country’s best-seller in the segment for the last five years. 

Transit Connect leads the small commercial van segment with 69 percent share and is on pace to have another record year, with commercial sales up 43 percent in the first half of 2015.

USA - Ford increases workforce on new F-150 trucks to meet ever increasing demand.

• Ford is adding 1,550 new jobs to its Kansas City Assembly, Dearborn Stamping, Dearborn Diversified and Sterling Axle facilities to meet growing demand for the all-new 2015 F-150 – the toughest, smartest, most capable F-150 ever
• As part of Ford’s commitment in the 2011 UAW-Ford collective bargaining agreement, approximately 300 to 500 workers – the first group of “new traditional” employees – will transition in the first quarter, based on attrition and growth, to $28.50 an hour 
• The entry-level agreement has enabled Ford to invest more than $6.2 billion in its U.S. plants and hire more than 15,000 hourly UAW members – up from the 12,000 jobs that were promised by 2015 in the contract agreement
• In January, Ford F-Series had its strongest sales month since 2004; F-150 sits just 12 days on dealer lots – turning faster than any other Ford vehicle

As Ford ramps up production of the all-new F-150, the company today announced it will add 1,550 new jobs across its Kansas City Assembly, Dearborn Stamping, Dearborn Diversified and Sterling Axle facilities in the first quarter of 2015. The new jobs will support production and growing customer demand for the recently launched 2015 Ford F-150.

With these new jobs, Ford has reached its entry-level allowance outlined in the 2011 UAW-Ford collective bargaining agreement. As a result, approximately 300 to 500 workers – the first group of “new traditional” employees – will transition, based on attrition and growth, from their entry-level wage of $19.28 an hour to their new wage of $28.50 an hour. The majority of these employees work at Kansas City, Chicago and Louisville assembly facilities.

“Thanks to stronger than expected customer demand, we’re adding 1,550 new workers to support additional F-150 production,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president, The Americas. “These jobs are further proof that customers recognize the all-new F-150 as the toughest, smartest, most capable F-150 ever. We sell every truck we can build, and we plan to build more.”

Of the 1,550 new jobs, 900 are allocated for Kansas City Assembly and 500 will be added between Dearborn Stamping and Dearborn Diversified, with the remaining 150 jobs going to Sterling Axle. These jobs are in addition to the more than 5,000 hourly jobs Ford added across its U.S. manufacturing facilities in 2014. 

“This is very exciting news and these additional jobs will have an impact in communities all across our nation,” said Jimmy Settles, UAW vice president and director, National Ford Department. “This also represents a major milestone for employees hired under the entry level agreement, as many will now begin to convert to ‘new traditional’ wage status, as negotiated in the 2011 collective bargaining agreement.”

The entry-level agreement negotiated as part of UAW-Ford collective bargaining has helped improve Ford’s competitiveness and enabled the company to invest more than $6.2 billion in its U.S. manufacturing facilities. Ford has hired more than 15,000 hourly UAW members – exceeding its goal of creating 12,000 hourly jobs in the United States by 2015.

Toughest, smartest, most capable F-150 ever

The all-new F-150 is the toughest, smartest and most capable F-150 ever – boasting a military-grade, aluminum-alloy body and high-strength steel frame, and shedding up to 700 pounds for a lighter, more efficient truck than any previous F-150.

These weight savings lead to customer benefits regardless of model configuration or engine choice. The innovative new truck can tow up to 1,100 more pounds and haul up to 530 more pounds than the 2014 model, and has the highest EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of any full-size gasoline pickup on the market. When equipped with an available 2.7-liter EcoBoost^® engine, the new F-150 4x2 has EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined. Actual mileage may vary.

Numerous groundbreaking features debuted in the all-new F-150, including these class-exclusives:

• 360-degree camera view uses exterior cameras to create a bird’s-eye view of the truck to help drivers park, maneuver in tight spots, and navigate narrow roads and trails
• Integrated loading ramps enable easy loading of ATVs, motorcycles and mowers
• BoxLink^™ cargo management system combines metal brackets and custom cleats to secure a variety of accessories in the cargo box – from ramps to storage bins to bed dividers
• Trailer hitch assist adds a new rearview camera feature that incorporates a dynamic line based on steering wheel angle in the display to help customers line up their truck and trailer with no spotter or need to exit the vehicle
• Remote tailgate allows for tailgate to be locked, unlocked and released with the key fob

To manufacture the all-new Ford F-150, the truck team designed an innovative process that includes the latest in advanced materials and in forming and joining technologies.  

The new manufacturing process called for the overhaul of both Dearborn Truck and Kansas City Assembly facilities. Dearborn Truck saw its largest manufacturing transformation in decades wherein legacy manufacturing equipment was replaced with the latest in production technology. Changeover at the facility was completed last fall. Kansas City Assembly is currently undergoing a similar renovation that is scheduled to be complete in early 2015. 

Combined, the two plants will have capacity to produce more than 700,000 trucks per year for availability in 90 markets globally.

F-150 is part of Ford F-Series, celebrating its 38th straight year as America’s best-selling truck and 33rd straight year as America’s best-selling vehicle. Ford sold 753,851 trucks in 2014.

The all-new F-150 is off to a tremendous start. In January, Ford F-Series had its strongest sales month since 2004, which was the company’s best sales year for the F-150 ever. In the first month of 2015, F-150 sat just 12 days on dealer lots – turning faster than any other Ford vehicle. In addition, more than 1 million people have built and priced F-150 configurations on Ford’s website.

USA - Seamless: All-new 2015 Ford F-150 seamless sliding rear window

• Ford to launch new seamless sliding rear window design, available on the all-new 2015 Ford F-150 – the toughest, smartest, most capable F-150 yet
• New technology hides window seams, setting a new trend for power sliders by improving looks and functionality while reducing components and manufacturing complexity
• Seamless sliding rear window was developed through a Ford and Magna International association

When people see the all-new Ford F-150 for the first time, they tend to do two things: First, they tap their knuckles against the high-strength, military-grade, aluminum-alloy body, and then they marvel at the pickup truck’s available segment-first seamless sliding rear window.

The seamless design conceals the vertical seams that mark the edges of conventional pickup truck sliding rear windows, creating a smooth opening when viewed from outside.

Developed by global automotive supplier Magna International, in association with Ford, the first-to-market design sets a new trend for power sliders by reducing component needs and improving overall functionality and manufacturing efficiency.

“Delivering the latest in innovation and technology to our customer is a top priority for Ford,” said Noah Mass, Ford body mechanisms manager. “The seamless sliding rear window is another great example of the intricate detail that goes into producing the next-generation F-150, setting it apart from any pickup on the market today.”

Standard sliding rear windows typically contain three pieces of glass – left and right panes that don’t move plus the sliding portion in the middle, all held together by a support structure that requires numerous components. The seamless sliding rear window uses only two pieces of glass – the exterior surround and the sliding portion, reducing build componentry and complexity. The window’s opening is the same size as the outgoing design.

In addition to its streamlined looks, the window’s two-piece design enables continuous uninterrupted defrost capability for the larger surrounding glass.

The new design also contributes to vehicle weight savings, as the seamless power slider uses a lighter window control module. Overall, up to 700 pounds have been saved through the use of smarter design and advanced materials, helping the all-new F-150 tow more, haul more, accelerate quicker and stop shorter, and contributing to efficiency.

“We designed the seamless sliding rear window to deliver not only a new look and improved functionality, but also to start a trend in the truck sliding window market,” said Troy Tooker, design engineering manager for Magna International. “With pickup sliders being one of our core products, we wanted to show our leadership and raise the bar on the new F-150.”

All-new Ford F-150 – the future of trucks

The 2015 Ford F-150 is the toughest, smartest, most capable F-150 ever – setting the standard for the future of trucks. Its signature fully boxed ladder frame is all-new, with more high-strength steel than ever – making the truck both stronger and lighter.

High-strength, military-grade aluminum is used throughout the F-150 body for the first time, improving dent and ding resistance and also saving weight.

When it arrives in showrooms later this year, the all-new F-150 will have undergone the equivalent of more than 10 million miles of torture testing to ensure it meets or exceeds Built Ford Tough standards.

In addition to an all-new 2.7-liter EcoBoost^® engine offering, a complete lineup of powertrains lets customers tailor the toughest, smartest, most capable pickup truck ever to their needs. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine returns, an all-new normally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 debuts and there is an improved 5.0-liter V8.

F-150 is part of the Ford F-Series lineup. Now in its 66th year, F-Series has been the best-selling truck in America for 37 consecutive years and the best-selling vehicle in America for 32 consecutive years.

The all-new F-150 will be manufactured at Dearborn Truck Plant in Dearborn, Michigan, and Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Missouri.