By Gail Kachadourian
Automotive News / October 06, 2003
Ford Motor Co. will build the 2006 Ford Futura sedan at its Hermosillo plant in Sonora, Mexico, the automaker said Monday. Production will start in 2005.
The Hermosillo plant produces the Focus ZX3, ZX5 and SVT. Ford has not decided if production of those vehicles will have to be moved, a spokeswoman said.
An expansion of Hermosillo will give the plant a maximum capacity of 300,000 vehicles annually. Ford said it could add as many as 2,000 employees.
Hermosillo will be able to build Lincoln and Mercury models off the Futura platform. Ford would not reveal timing on those models.
The automaker is installing its next-generation flexible manufacturing system at the plant. The system allows Ford to build as many as eight different models off of two platforms.
Ford also will create a 1.75 million square-foot, on-site supplier park for as many as 19 Tier 1 suppliers. Among the suppliers already chosen are Lear Corp., Faurecia and Magna Cosma International.
In addition to those suppliers, about 16 Mexican suppliers also have committed to make investments in their operations to supply the Futura.
The Futura is based on the Madza6 platform. That platform will serve as a base for as many as 10 new vehicles across the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands in the next several years, the company said. Total program investment, including equipment and platform development, is estimated to be about $1 billion for all the vehicles, which will represent 800,000 units of volume.
The Futura will be sold in Mexico, Canada and the United States.
Automotive News / October 06, 2003
Ford Motor Co. will build the 2006 Ford Futura sedan at its Hermosillo plant in Sonora, Mexico, the automaker said Monday. Production will start in 2005.
The Hermosillo plant produces the Focus ZX3, ZX5 and SVT. Ford has not decided if production of those vehicles will have to be moved, a spokeswoman said.
An expansion of Hermosillo will give the plant a maximum capacity of 300,000 vehicles annually. Ford said it could add as many as 2,000 employees.
Hermosillo will be able to build Lincoln and Mercury models off the Futura platform. Ford would not reveal timing on those models.
The automaker is installing its next-generation flexible manufacturing system at the plant. The system allows Ford to build as many as eight different models off of two platforms.
Ford also will create a 1.75 million square-foot, on-site supplier park for as many as 19 Tier 1 suppliers. Among the suppliers already chosen are Lear Corp., Faurecia and Magna Cosma International.
In addition to those suppliers, about 16 Mexican suppliers also have committed to make investments in their operations to supply the Futura.
The Futura is based on the Madza6 platform. That platform will serve as a base for as many as 10 new vehicles across the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands in the next several years, the company said. Total program investment, including equipment and platform development, is estimated to be about $1 billion for all the vehicles, which will represent 800,000 units of volume.
The Futura will be sold in Mexico, Canada and the United States.