Ford Confirms It Will Move Small-Car Production to Mexico

Ford Motor Co. has finally publicly acknowledged it intends to migrate its small-car production in North America from the U.S. to Mexico within the next three years.

The plan has been widely reported for months. CEO Mark Fields confirmed the move to analysts and investors on Wednesday. It was the same day arch critic and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was in Michigan on a campaign tour. He promptly declared the move “horrible” and “more bad news for Michigan.”

Ford advised the United Auto Workers union of its intent to relocate its small-car operations out of the U.S. more than a year ago. Reports at the time noted that the company’s small-car plant in Wayne, Mich., would stop building the Focus small sedan and C-Max small MPV in 2018 and move next-generation versions of those models to another country.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, which plans a similar strategy, has been more forthcoming about its plan. Both companies contend the shift will help stabilize automotive factory jobs in the U.S. by making the country a production hub for more popular and profitable pickup trucks, SUVs and crossover vehicles.