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Ford Prepares Chicago Site to Make Hybrid SUVs
Ford Motor Co. is spending $50 million to update a facility outside Chicago to handle final assembly of hybrid SUVs.
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Ford Motor Co. is spending $50 million to update a facility outside Chicago to handle final assembly of hybrid SUVs.
The project will transform an existing 200,000 sq-ft “modification center” into a mini-assembly plant, The Detroit News reports. The little factory is expected to begin operations late this year.
The new factory will make hybrid iterations of partially assembled conventional SUVs supplied by Ford’s huge Chicago Assembly plant a mile away. The latter facility is completing a $1 billion overhaul that Ford announced in February.
Ford will tap 450 temporary workers at the Chicago assembly and stamping plants to become fulltime workers at the new mini-factory. The revamped facility will make hybrid versions of the Ford Explorer, Ford Police Interceptor and Lincoln Aviator SUVs.
Joe Hinrichs, president of automotive, tells the News that the arrangement will free up Chicago Assembly to boost its output of highly profitable and conventionally powered SUVs.
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