Ford Aims for 8 Million-Unit Capacity by 2017

Ford Motor Co. says it will hike its worldwide production capacity to 8 million vehicles annually from 6 million today in five years.

By 2017 the company aims to have about 80 assembly plants in operation globally, The list includes 14 added between 2011 and 2015 most of them in China, India and Russia.

Ford also intends to run 90% of its factories around the clock, up from two-thirds that do so currently. The move to three-shift operations will boost production time 30%, according to the company.

Ford says it also will cut costs and boost efficiency by trimming the number of platforms needed for its lineup of cars and light-duty trucks to nine from 15 today. Fewer chassis will help the company improve the average number of models each factory can build simultaneously to four from three today.