Ford Confirms Lincoln MKC Production Will Remain in U.S.

Ford Motor Co. says it will continue to build the Lincoln MKC crossover vehicle at its plant in Louisville, Ky., rather than relocate production outside the U.S.

President-elect Donald Trump announced the decision via Twitter Thursday night. He incorrectly suggested that Ford had planned to move the entire plant, which also makes the Ford Escape small SUV, to Mexico.

Ford and the United Auto Workers union agreed three months ago that the MKC was to be phased out in Kentucky in September 2019. But Ford said it would maintain employment there by hiking Escape production. Neither the company nor the UAW indicated where the MKC would be assembled after 2019.

Trump repeatedly chastised Ford during his campaign about moving vehicle production and jobs from the U.S. to Mexico.

Ford says its decision to keep MKC production in the U.S. was based on indications that the Trump administration and Republican-controlled Congress will “pursue policies that will improve U.S. competitiveness.”