Ford Invests $1.4 Billion to Make 10-Speed Truck Transmissions

Ford Motor Co. says it is spending $1.4 billion to prepare its transmission plant in Livonia, Mich., to make 10-speed automatic gearboxes for select F-Series fullsize pickup trucks.

The program is the largest single investment in the $9 billion Ford agreed to spend on U.S. operations as part of its four-year labor pact last autumn with the United Auto Workers union.

The Livonia facility currently makes 6-speed automatics for a variety of cars, vans and SUVs. The plant is expected to add production of the more fuel-efficient 10-speed units in June. Ford will use the new transmissions, which was jointly developed with General Motors Co., in various F-150 trucks, including the all-new Raptor model. The expansion will add 500 hourly jobs.

Separately, Ford reports it is investing about $200 million to expand capacity at its Ohio assembly plant in Avon Lake to make F-Series Super Duty chassis cabs. The company says about 150 jobs will be added as a result.