USA - Ford Motor Company to invest nealry £2 billion in plant upgrades and new models.

• $850 million Michigan Assembly Plant upgrade supports return of Ford Ranger, Bronco
• $150 million investment and 130 jobs at Romeo Engine expands capacity for engine components for several vehicles, including Ranger and Bronco
• $200 million investment for advanced data center in Michigan supports Ford’s expansion to an auto and mobility company and expected dramatic increase in data storage needs
• Investments are in addition to $700 million and 700 new jobs at Ford’s Flat Rock, Michigan facility, announced in January, for high-tech electrified and autonomous vehicles; Ford has announced $1.9 billion in new investments in Michigan this year

Ford Motor Company is investing $1.2 billion in three Michigan manufacturing facilities to strengthen its leadership in trucks and SUVs and support the company’s expansion to an auto and mobility company.

Ford is investing $850 million in Michigan Assembly Plant to retool the plant to build the all-new Ford Ranger and Ford Bronco. Employees at Michigan Assembly Plant will begin building Ranger at the end of 2018 and Bronco in 2020.

The company also plans to create or retain 130 jobs and invest $150 million to expand capacity for engine components for several vehicles, including Ranger and Bronco, at Romeo Engine Plant in Michigan.

In addition, Ford is investing $200 million for an advanced data center to support the company’s expansion to an auto and a mobility company. 

It is the second of two new data centers Ford is building in Michigan, as the company expects its data usage to increase 1,000 percent – driven by manufacturing and business needs and new mobility services, such as more connected, autonomous and electrified vehicles.

The second new data center will be located at Ford’s Flat Rock Assembly Plant, where the company is investing $700 million and adding 700 direct new jobs – announced in January – to create a factory capable of producing high-tech electrified and autonomous vehicles.

“At Ford, we are investing aggressively in building on our strengths today – including trucks, vans, commercial vehicles, performance vehicles and SUVs – while at the same time growing our leadership in electrification, autonomy and mobility services,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president, The Americas. “As America’s top producer of automobiles, we are proud to be going even further in our commitment to invest in manufacturing here at home.”

The company’s investments are supported by Ford’s strong partnership with the UAW, as well as with federal, state, county and local governments.

“UAW-Ford is proud of the total investments in three of our Southeast Michigan assembly and engine plants, which will lead to stronger job security for our members and continued support for the surrounding communities,” said UAW-Ford Vice President Jimmy Settles. “Thanks to collective bargaining, the hard-working men and women at each of these locations will now reap the full fruits of their labor. We look forward to celebrating more product investment and job growth at each of our UAW represented facilities in the months and years to come.”

In the past three months alone, Ford has announced $1.9 billion in new investments in Michigan. During the past five years, Ford has invested $12 billion in its U.S. plants and created a total of nearly 28,000 U.S. jobs.

Ford builds more vehicles in the United States and employs more hourly U.S. workers than any other automaker.

New Ranger and Bronco at Michigan Assembly

The work to transform Michigan Assembly Plant begins next May. Following the same pattern used during vehicle changeover at Dearborn Truck Plant in 2014, Michigan Assembly will take just four weeks to remove and reinstall the tooling necessary to build the all-new Ford Ranger and Ford Bronco.

The iconic Ranger and Bronco will further expand Ford’s truck and SUV leadership in North America – two of the company’s profit pillars.

During the last five years, sales of midsize pickups have grown nearly 50 percent. Many truck buyers want an affordable, functional, rugged and maneuverable pickup that’s Built Ford Tough. Ranger is built to meet their needs.

Rugged utilities have been the second fastest-growing SUV segment during the last five years, making it the time right for Bronco’s return – especially with its legendary 4x4 off-road capability.

Expanded capacity at Romeo Engine

Romeo Engine Plant produces engines for Ford Super Duty, E-Series, Ford Shelby GT 350 Mustang and Shelby GT350R Mustang, along with components for F-Series, Mustang, Explorer and Edge. This investment adds capacity and tooling for components for an additional engine when the plant begins its transformation in early 2018.

In North America alone, Ford has invested more than $3.8 billion to develop more than 30 engines since 2009, when the company introduced its first EcoBoost^® engine. Since then, Ford has produced more than 8 million engines globally with the fuel-saving technology.

Data center supports auto and mobility company expansion

As Ford expands to be both an automotive and mobility company, the company’s data storage requirements are expected to increase from 13 petabytes today to more than 200 petabytes in 2021. This is especially true as Ford grows its leadership in connectivity, autonomous vehicles, electrification and mobility services.

The new data centers are helping Ford create a world-class infrastructure for storage, processing and integration of this data.

The centers also will increase the ability of Ford’s global data insights and analytics team to transform the customer experience, enable new mobility products and services, and help Ford operate more efficiently. 

USA RECALL - Ford issues two separate recalls on the Focus, C-Max and the F-150

Ford Motor Company is issuing one safety recall and one safety compliance recall in North America. Details are as follows:

Ford issues safety recall for certain 2016 Ford Focus and C-MAX vehicles to inspect and repair left-hand body apron joints located on the floor pan

Ford is issuing a safety recall for 18 2016 Ford Focus and C-MAX vehicles to inspect and repair left-hand body apron joints located on the floor pan. In the affected vehicles, improper left-hand body apron joints may have reduced front-end structural integrity, potentially increasing the risk of injury in a frontal crash.

Ford is not aware of any fires, accidents or injuries associated with this issue.

Affected vehicles include certain 2016 Ford Focus vehicles built at Michigan Assembly Plant, Oct. 26, 2016 to Oct. 27, 2016 and 2016 Ford C-MAX vehicles built at Michigan Assembly Plant, Oct. 26, 2016.

There are approximately 17 vehicles located in the United States and one in Canada. The Ford reference number for this recall is 17S03.

Dealers will inspect and repair left-hand body apron joints as required at no cost to the customer.

Ford issues safety compliance recall for certain 2017 Ford F-150 vehicles to reprogram instrument cluster display

Ford is issuing a safety compliance recall for approximately 8,000 2017 Ford F-150 vehicles to reprogram instrument cluster displays that may experience a loss of functionality immediately after startup in cold ambient temperatures.

In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift position indicator located in the instrument panel cluster may not illuminate and display the selected transmission gear position. 

This may increase the risk of injury or crash from unintended vehicle movement. In addition, an inoperative instrument panel cluster display may prevent activation of certain warning chimes, messages and warning lights.

Ford is not aware of any fires, accidents or injuries associated with this issue.

Affected vehicles include certain 2017 Ford F-150 vehicles built at Dearborn Assembly Plant and Kansas City Assembly Plant, Oct. 4, 2016 to Nov. 23, 2016.

There are approximately 7,974 vehicles located in North America, including 6,792 in the United States and federalized territories, 1,057 in Canada and 125 in Mexico. The Ford reference number for this recall is 17C01.

Dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster display at no cost to the customer.

USA - Ford celebrates the American's biggest seller for decades, the F-Series with a year long celebration.

• Ford F-Series is now America’s best-selling truck for 40 consecutive years and America’s best-selling vehicle for 35 years; with more than 26 million trucks sold since 1977
• Listening to customers, delivering constant innovation and best-in-class levels of performance enabled the Ford F-Series to set itself apart by making customers more productive through tougher, smarter and more capable trucks

• Ford kicks off 2017 with a yearlong celebration for loyal F-Series owners and their trucks at 40YearsTough.com

Ford, America’s truck leader, is celebrating a major milestone as F-Series now reigns as the top-selling truck in the country for 40 consecutive years and best-selling vehicle for 35 years.

Ford has now sold more than 26 million F-Series trucks since January 1977. Think of it like this: That many trucks could circle the globe more than three times, or, lined up bumper-to-bumper, would span 90,000-plus miles.

Ford truck leadership was established with the sixth-generation of F-Series for the 1977 model year, a time when 8-track tapes, disco and bell bottoms were the rage. 

The company was riding a sales wave – based on an all-new F-150 light-duty pickup featuring an improved 351-series V8 engine, standard front disc brakes, and an extended SuperCab offering.

Yet continuous innovation is at the very core of F-Series’ success and even with the momentum in 1977, Ford engineers were already at work on a clean-sheet design for an all-new lineup. That seventh-generation F-Series not only set sales records for trucks, but also by 1982 it had become the overall best-selling vehicle in America.

“The 1980 model was a breakthrough generation for Ford,” said historian and author James Wagner. “It was all new – probably the greatest change in 40 years. It was fresh and had a strong emotional appeal with the twin I-beam front suspension. It seems from that point on, things really went Ford’s way as far as trucks were concerned.”

1997 marked the beginning of a split for F-Series into two distinct platforms – the 10th-generation F-150 was geared toward light-duty truck customers, while new F-250 and F-350 Super Duty brand trucks debuted in 1999 targeting heavy-duty commercial vehicle buyers.

Ford anticipated widening consumer needs, expanded its truck lineup

Early on, Ford identified changing consumer preferences among truck customers who were increasingly using their vehicle to do more than haul livestock and equipment; customers were also using their trucks for their family and lifestyle needs. 

Beginning with the King Ranch in 2001, Ford was now offering luxury edition pickups that provided a combination of capability, style and comfort. Furthermore, models like the Platinum and Limited series went further, featuring leather seating, rich wood trim, full power accessories and premium sound systems.

Ford also pioneered performance and specialty truck segments with the special-edition Harley-Davidson F-150 and SVT F-150 Lightning in 1993. By 2002, Ford was marking 25 years as best-selling truck in America and 20 years as best-selling vehicle overall.

“What’s made the F-Series so successful is the Ford truck team’s ability to anticipate the needs of our customers better than anyone else – how those needs change, what’s most important, and what they need to move forward,” said Todd Eckert, Ford truck group marketing manager. “Their insights help us design, engineer and build America’s best-selling trucks.”

For the 2004 model year, the 11th-generation F-150 received a top-down redesign. 2009 saw Ford charging ahead with some of the strongest visual cues ever for the 12th-generation F-Series. 

For the 2011 model year, the company was poised to combat skyrocketing energy costs with introduction of the all-new fuel-efficient 3.5-liter EcoBoost^® V6 engine for F-150.

Toughest, smartest, most capable F-Series ever

On rare occasions, innovative companies forever change the game with the introduction of a revolutionary product. Ford’s all-new high-strength, military-grade aluminum-alloy body for the light-duty F-150 in 2015 was that breakthrough product. 

Then Ford applied the same lightweight material to make the all-new 2017 F-Series Super Duty even more capable than ever.

When paired with advanced powertrains, like Ford EcoBoost V6 engines, the F-150 lineup offers the most hauling capability* and best-in-class gas mileage**.

Customers and critics alike appreciate the continued innovation of Ford F-Series trucks, with the 2017 Super Duty winning the Motor Trend Truck of the Year award – the seventh time in 30 years Ford has taken home the honors.

F-Series innovations and milestones, 1977 to present

• 1977: Ford begins F-Series truck leadership, selling 818,580 trucks for the model year
• 1979: Ford introduces the Built Ford Tough brand promise
• 1980: All-new seventh-generation F-Series features efficient gas and diesel V8 engines, new angular design, improved interior features; twin-traction-beam four-wheel-drive front suspension introduced
• 1984: F-150 replaces F-100 as base F-Series truck, adding improved safety features and new center console; optional CD player comes a year later
• 1987: Eighth-generation F-Series features a more aerodynamic design, available electronic fuel injection, redesigned interior including instrument panel, and rear antilock brakes
• 1998: Super Duty brand of medium-duty trucks debuts for commercial customers and aligns the popular F-150 line for light-duty customers
• 2001: Luxury King Ranch is an unprecedented success
• 2002: Ford, celebrating 25 years as best-selling truck in America and 20 years as best-selling vehicle overall, introduces Ford-engineered, Ford-built 6.7-liter Power Stroke^® turbo diesel engine
• 2008: Ford introduces all-new Class 3-leading F-450 pickup, once again raising the bar for maximum towing capacity
• 2011: Powerful, efficient EcoBoost engine technology introduced for F-150
• 2015: Ford shifts production away from steel to high-strength, military-grade, aluminum-alloy body for F-150; introduces all-new technology, including 360-degree camera
• 2016: New Pro Trailer Backup Assist helps make backing up a trailer as easy as turning a knob; plus F-150 is only full-size pickup to earn a five-star rating from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and a Top Safety Pick from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
• 2017: Ford celebrates F-Series leadership, marking 40 years with the best-selling truck in America and the best-selling vehicle overall for 35 years

USA - Drive the Future of Tough tour offers an opportunity to test the toughest, smartest, most capable Super Duty ever.

• Drive the Future of Tough tour offers an early opportunity to test drive the toughest, smartest, most capable Super Duty ever
• 29-city tour continues through Nov. 13, with each site offering vehicle drives, interactive displays and towing demonstrations; product experts are on hand to answer questions on all-new Super Duty’s 17 class-exclusive smart new features
• Consumers can enter for a chance to win an all-new 2017 Ford F-Series Super Duty

Ford, America’s truck leader, is offering consumers across the United States an opportunity to test drive the all-new 2017 Ford F-Series Super Duty – the toughest, smartest, most capable Super Duty ever.

Drive the Future of Tough, a 29-city cross-country tour that kicked off earlier this year, continues through Nov. 13. Consumers can schedule test drives at SuperDutyDrive.com, though walk-up participation also is encouraged.

The test route allows truck consumers to experience the all-new Super Duty’s best-in-class capability and its 17 class-exclusive smart new features, including adaptive steering, adaptive cruise control and Trailer Reverse Guidance. Product experts are along for the ride to explain the innovations and answer questions.

“The new Super Duty takes the heavy-duty truck segment to the next level,” says Doug Scott, Ford truck group marketing manager. “Truck customers can learn how it provides best-in-class towing and hauling, and they’ll get to experience Super Duty’s class-exclusive features from the best place possible – the driver’s seat.”

Participants can enter a sweepstakes to win an all-new 2017 F-Series Super Duty. Details are available at tour locations.

The tour includes a variety of well-equipped F-250, F-350 and F-450 models in Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum trim levels. The trucks feature a mix of the 6.2-liter V8 gasoline engine and 6.7-liter Power Stroke^®turbo diesel. F-250 models are equipped with the all-new TorqShift-G transmission.

The tour features interactive displays to help consumers understand how the all-new Super Duty is Built Ford Tough, starting with its high-strength steel frame construction and high-strength, military-grade, aluminum-alloy body and box panels.

Upcoming tour stops include:

• Aug. 16-20, Billings, Montana
• Aug. 19-21, San Antonio
• Aug. 20-28, Louisville, Kentucky
• Aug. 25-27, Dallas
• Sept. 2-5, Henderson, North Carolina
• Sept. 9-18, Puyallup, Washington
• Sept. 9-25, Reno, Nevada
• Sept. 13-15, Grand Island, Nebraska
• Sept. 15-18, Nashville, Tennessee
• Sept. 20-22, London, Ohio
• Sept. 21-Oct. 9, Anaheim, California
• Sept. 24-Oct. 1, Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania
• Sept. 30-Oct. 11, Dallas
• Oct. 6-8, Concord, North Carolina
• Oct. 13-16, Ormond Beach, Florida
• Oct. 18-20, Moultrie, Georgia
• Nov. 1-5, Las Vegas
• Nov. 8-13, Avondale, Arizona

Media will be invited to participate in select cities.

CANADA - June sees the top six automakers push ahead with growing sales and broken records.

The Detroit 3 and Japan's biggest automakers posted higher Canadian sales for June, on an annual basis, boosted by growing demand for light trucks and an extra selling day during the month.

Across the industry, June sales hit a new record for the month, rising 7.4 percent to 191,088 on an annual basis, Canadian auto analyst Dennis DesRosiers said Monday. Sales of trucks, SUVs and vans grew 14 percent, even as sluggish sales of sedans declined 2.9 percent on an annual basis, he wrote in a note.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles reported sales of 27,776 in June for an increase of 2 percent compared with the same month in 2015. For the first half of 2016, FCA Canada said it sold 152,439 vehicles, a record high for the automaker.

"At the mid-year point, FCA Canada is on pace for another record-setting sales year," Dave Buckingham, COO of FCA Canada, said in a statement.

Scotiabank, in a June report, projected Canadian auto sales will rise to 1.96 million vehicles in 2016, up from a record-breaking 1.9 million cars and light trucks last year.

In May, Canadian auto sales slipped 1.5 percent on an annual basis, the first monthly decline since December 2015, in part because the month had two fewer selling days.

The market rebounded strongly in June after a slower month in May," DesRosiers said. "Sales finished 6.0 percent higher for the first half of 2016, without a clear sign of slowing down."

Ford Motor Co. and General Motors also reported higher Canadian sales for June, on an annual basis.

Ford said it sold 28,718 vehicles in June, a gain of 7 percent for the month. Demand for pickups fueled a near 12 percent rise in Ford's sales for the first half of 2016, with the automaker reporting the sale of 149,942 vehicles during the six-month period.

General Motors delivered 26,045 vehicles in June, up 8 percent compared with the same month in 2015. GM said the month had 26 selling days, compared with 25 in June 2015. GM said its retail sales rose 19 percent in June and 6 percent in the first half of the year.

Behind record hybrid and truck demand, Toyota Canada Inc. sold 22,004 Toyota, Scion and Lexus vehicles in June, an increase of 6.4% compared to 2015. Sales in the first half of the year reached 113,410, a gain of 8 percent compared to the first six months of 2015.

The Toyota division, which includes Scion, recorded June sales of 20,252 for a gain of 7.9 percent compared to 2015, while Lexus said deliveries slipped 8.5 percent to 1,752.

Honda Motor reported a 2 percent rise in June Canadian sales, on an annual basis, with 16,905 units sold during the month. The Honda division reported June sales of 15,273, up 4 percent over last year, and marking an all-time June record for the brand.

Nissan Group reported June deliveries of 14,132 for an increase of 13 percent over 2015 and the best sales month ever for the company. Volume rose 13 percent at the Nissan brand and 5.4 percent at Infiniti.

In the United States, which reported results on July 1, the pace of auto sales slowed in June compared to a year ago, as slumping sales of sedans offset strong demand for pickups and sport utility vehicles. The seasonally adjusted annual sales pace for June was 16.66 million, according to Autodata Corp., down from 17 million vehicles a year earlier.

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