Make America
Great Again: Ford Motors Cancels Mexico Plant, Set To Create 700 Jobs In U.S.
(And Invest $700 Million)
By Matt Vespa
What do they say about negotiation: it’s all about give
and take. Earlier this morning, Cortney wrote about President-elect Donald J.
Trump hitting
General Motors for moving production of the Chevy Cruze to Mexico. Over at
Ford Motors, the tune was different. They’re going to expand an existing U.S.
plant, investing $700 million. In the process, it will also create 700 jobs.
Ford CEO Mark Fields said this move was a “vote of confidence” in the incoming
Trump administration (via CNN
Money):
We didn't cut a deal with Trump. We did it for our
business," Fields told CNN's Poppy Harlow in an exclusive interview
Tuesday. He said Ford did speak with Trump and vice-president elect Mike Pence
this morning.
The $700 million investment will go to the Flat Rock,
Michigan plant to produce more electric and self-driving cars. Ford believes
electric vehicles will outsell gasoline-powered vehicles within the next 15
years.
"I am thrilled that we have been able to secure
additional UAW-Ford jobs for American workers," said Jimmy Settles, United
Auto Workers vice president.
Ford is planning to roll out seven new electric vehicles
in the next five years, including a Mustang Hybrid.
The news is a major U-turn for Ford. Last year, the
company announced it would invest $1.6 billion in Mexico to transfer the
production of the Ford Focus from Michigan to Mexico to save costs. Now the
Focus will be built at an existing plant in Hermosillo, Mexico, and Ford will
expand its plant in Flat Rock.
And why wouldn’t there be confidence.
Small business
owners’ optimism has hit an
8-year high, with consumer confidence reaching a
15-year high, as Obama makes his way to the exit.
Also, Trump saved almost
1,000 jobs through a deal with Carrier.
SoftBank said they would invest $50
billion with the U.S. and create
50,000 jobs as well.
