Ford Motor Co. executives, United Auto Worker members, and state and local officials recently gathered near the Calycomo plant near Kansas City, MO to announce the auto giant’s $1.1 billion investment in the facility, creating 1,600 new jobs.
Company officials said the approval of a labor agreement this week allowed them to proceed with plans to add a second manufacturing line for the F-150 pickup truck next year, and bring in an entirely new product, the Transit commercial van, with work to start in 2013, the Kansas City Star reported.
Flanked by two F-150’s, Mark Fields, Ford’s president of the Americas, said the area’s business climate and the agreement with the United Auto Workers allowed Ford to be more competitive while making its products in the U.S., instead of sending the work to other countries.
“This is a very special time,” he said. “We’re going to build that bright future here at the Kansas City assembly plant.”
Gov. Jay Nixon was even more enthusiastic.
“Right here the rebirth of the American manufacturing industry began right now,” he said to loud applause. “This is our moment.”
