Blow to UAW: Ford C-Max, Focus production to leave US - Detroit Free Press
Ford said Thursday it will move production of the Focus and C-Max small cars from its Michigan Assembly Plant in 2018, with UAW officials saying they were told the work will leave the U. S. The company's decision sets a potentially combative tone... The UAW formally opens negotiations with GM on Monday, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles on Tuesday and Ford the following week. Before today, Ford didn't really have anything to negotiate on. the UAW had the upper hand. Now Ford has wiggle room to negotiate for jobs and products. Ford spokeswoman Kristina Adamski declined to say where Ford plans to relocate the manufacturing, and said the site choice will be based on where the cars can be competitively produced. Ford has also invested in new plants in the country,lately. Ford's move also comes as a host of automakers, including Ford, are building new plants in Mexico instead of in the U. S. and raises questions about which products could replace the Focus -- a car that symbolized Ford's transformation in 2011 from... Source: www.freep.com
