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CHICAGO, June 24, 2019 – Inside the Ford plant on Chicago’s south side, it’s difficult to recognize that it is the company’s oldest continuously producing plant. A nearly $1 billion investment and 500 additional jobs have completely transformed this plant into a high-tech facility entrusted with building a new version of America’s best-selling SUV over the last 29 years – the Ford Explorer.
Ford announced the $1 billion investment in its Chicago Assembly and Stamping plants and 500 new jobs earlier this year. A strong Chicago workforce – boosted with new technology in the Chicago Assembly Plant – is building Ford’s all-new Explorer lineup, Police Interceptor Utility vehicles and all-new Lincoln Aviator.
The plant changeover took one month – a company record for an all-new vehicle build.
“This reflects American ingenuity at its finest,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford’s president, Automotive. “In the first five days of the transformation, the team moved the scrap metal equivalent to the weight of the Eiffel Tower from the plant, making room for new equipment. Knowing this plant is set in a city and trucks could not go in and out of the plant at all hours, the team got creative and rented a barge, put all of the scrap metal on it, floated it a mile up the river to a recycling center, then moved in more than 500 truckloads of new technology.”
Ford replaced outdated machines with advanced manufacturing technology – including two 3D printers at the plant. The Chicago team stripped the body shop down to the concrete floor and completely rebuilt it – adding 600 new robots. The team updated the paint shop, too, and modified nearly every operator workstation in the final assembly area.
The plant now also features a collaborative robot with a camera that inspects electrical connections during the manufacturing process.
The new production line also uses several 3D printed tools and nearly 500 new error-proofing tools to help employees build these new SUVs with even higher quality for customers.
Ford also invested $40 million for employee-centered improvements to make the plant a better place to work, including all-new LED lighting, cafeteria updates, new break areas and security upgrades in the parking lot.
The company also added team break rooms on the plant floor, which is important to employees on the line who work on their feet all day. With 30-minute breaks, they used to spend 10 minutes walking to and from an area in which they could relax. Now they can take full advantage of their entire break period.
“This plant is 95 years old but it’s just like new,” said Robert Washington, Chicago Assembly Plant employee. “I love to see the products we build out on the roads. It makes me very proud.”
Ford assembles more vehicles in the U.S. than any other manufacturer. The company also employs more hourly workers than any other automaker. More than 80 percent of what Ford sells in the U.S. is assembled in the U.S.*
Approximately 5,000 people work at Chicago Assembly Plant, including approximately 4,800 hourly employees. Approximately 1,200 people work at Chicago Stamping Plant including approximately 1,100 hourly employees.
“Our UAW members in Chicago are very serious about building these vehicles with quality,” said Rory Gamble, UAW-Ford Vice President. “Ford’s investment in the Chicago plants is important because it secures the jobs of our nearly 6,000 UAW members in the area, which is critical not only to their families but to the communities in which they live.”
All-new Ford Explorer, Explorer ST and Explorer Hybrid
The all-new Ford Explorer – America’s best-selling SUV over the last 29 years – features lighter, leaner and stronger construction, its broadest model lineup ever, more powerful and efficient EcoBoost® engines than before and smart new technology to help tackle all of life’s adventures.
The all-new Explorer ST, the newest SUV from Ford Performance, is the most fun-to-drive and powerful Explorer ever with a specially tuned 3.0-liter EcoBoost® engine producing 400 horsepower, 420 lb.-ft. of torque with a targeted top track speed of 143 mph.**
The all-new Explorer Limited Hybrid is a no-compromise Ford hybrid SUV designed to offer performance and capability in a fuel-efficient package. The rear wheel drive model is projected to have an EPA-estimated range of at least 500 miles per tank.***
All-new Police Interceptor Utility
When the all-new Police Interceptor Utility takes to the streets this summer, that lineup will include the Police Responder Hybrid Sedan, F-150 Police Responder, Expedition Special Service Vehicle, F-150 Special Service Vehicle, Transit Prisoner Transport Vehicle and Plug-In Hybrid Sedan Special Service Vehicle.
All-new 2020 Lincoln Aviator at Chicago Assembly
The all-new Aviator, Lincoln’s new entry in the growing premium large utility segment, arrives this summer.
The Aviator elevates Lincoln’s design vision and signals the direction of the brand’s vehicles going forward. The debut of the Aviator Grand Touring, marks the first time the company has combined a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine and advanced electrified hybrid technology and is capable of delivering smooth performance and instantaneous torque.
It will be exported from Chicago Assembly Plant for sale in China.
The Ford Explorer lineup and Police Interceptor Utility also begin arriving in dealerships this summer.
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*Built in the USA with domestic and foreign parts.
**Horsepower and torque ratings based on premium fuel per SAE J1349 standard. Your results may vary.
***Actual range will vary. 18 gallon tank. Final EPA-estimated ratings available in the 2019 calendar year.
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for customers and deepen their loyalty. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, along with connected services. The company does that through three customer-centered business segments: Ford Blue, engineering iconic gas-powered and hybrid vehicles; Ford Model e, inventing breakthrough electric vehicles along with embedded software that defines exceptional digital experiences for all customers; and Ford Pro, helping commercial customers transform and expand their businesses with vehicles and services tailored to their needs. Additionally, Ford provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 174,000 people worldwide. More information about the company and its products and services is available at corporate.ford.com.