Ford Will Stop Michigan C-Max, Focus Production in 2018
Ford will stop building the C-Max and Focus at its Wayne, Michigan plant in 2018, Automotive News is reporting.
Moving the production of the compact cars could signal a coming slowdown in small car sales, or a shift in strategy for the global automaker. UAW officials say they’re confident the C-Max and Focus will be replaced with a different product at the plant.
The automaker recently removed a third shift at the Wayne, Michigan plant and said they were cutting about 700 jobs at the plant.
“We actively are pursuing future vehicle alternatives to produce at Michigan Assembly,” Ford said in a statement, “and will discuss this issue with UAW leadership as part of the upcoming negotiations.”
Negotiations with the UAW begin July 23, according to Automotive News.
The Focus and C-Max are due for redesigns within 3 years. Sales for the C-Max have slumped this year.
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Can Ford use the facility to manufacture the massively successful aluminium F-150 wonder truck....................???? I really don't see this as a loss for Ford. Judging the Focus from my mother's last 2 Michigan built Focus's I do think APaGttH comment of using Haiti would produce a better quality Focus. It seems the use manufacturers' are slowly heading down the path of the Australian manufacturers. Well, cars are only appliance to many, like a LCD flat screen or fridge. The Thai's build a better quality Focus than the US, maybe Thai sourced small Fords is the way to go. Rather than just using Mexico, the manufacturers should start looking at diversifying the risks of supply.
If Ford thinks they can make the C-MAX and the Focus essentially unchanged through 2018, I think Ford is in for huge drops in market share. All of the competition either has been redesigned since the current generation Fords came out or they will be redesigned prior to 2018.
If the PowerShift trans gets left in the bin in Michigan, I'm fine with Focii being built in Mexico
I suspect Ford is barely breaking even on the C-Max and Focus. Moving production to Mexico may be necessary. I wonder what Ford USA's profits would be if you took away pickup trucks and SUVs????