US automaker Ford to speed up hybrid production

• Source: Xinhua
• [09:57 December 10 2009]
• Comments

Ford Motor Co. has outlined its plan to invest as much as $500 million in developing and manufacturing a new generation of electric vehicles in Michigan, the company said Tuesday.

If state lawmakers in Michigan approve Ford's request for tax credits submitted to the state administration Tuesday, the new move would consolidate much of Ford's electric vehicle research, development, engineering and manufacturing in the state, and create approximately 1,000 new jobs, said the company.

However, if the state does not approve tax credits for Ford, the automaker said it would consider other sites.

"We think it has a great opportunity to help in the economic growth of Michigan," said Nancy Gioia, Ford's director of global electric strategy.

Ford's announcement came a day after General Motors Co. said it would invest 336 million dollars to upgrade its Hamtramck plant in Michigan to produce the Chevrolet Volt, the major part of the company's electrification program.

Ford, which was the first US carmaker to manufacture a hybrid, plans to begin production of a battery-powered commercial van next year, to be followed by a battery-powered version of its new Focus compact in 2011.

The automaker currently purchases battery packs for its hybrid vehicles from Delphi Corp., which assembles them in Mexico. Ford now says battery engineering is a "core competency" that is too important to be entrusted to a supplier.