FordBuyer Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 ABC News reported tonight and even interviewed MTP employees that they will be getting new cars to build. Looks like Expedition/Navigator move to Dearborn, Kentucky, or Kansas City. MTP is to be retooled for new European based cars. New F100 must be going to Dearborn as it is flexible plant. Those employees interviewed seemed relieved to hear the news that MTP still has life ahead of it. Good news for Michigan as we don't need another closed down plant. Wayne is humming now and hopefully MTP will do well again with new product. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FordBuyer Posted July 22, 2008 Author Share Posted July 22, 2008 Another report that just came out says that part of MTP plant will be retooled to produce bodies for the present Focus as Wayne Stamping can't keep up with Focus demand. Supposedly Expy/Nav production will move to Kentucky Truck plant soon as possible. Looks like Ford is aiming to build more than 300,000 Focus for 2009. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michigander Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 Reports say the Kuga and, C-Max are on the way to MTP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalu Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 Reports say the Kuga and, C-Max are on the way to MTP Good news, hope it happens. :party2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougarpower Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 IMO the most common sense would be to build the focus on MTP since its next to the focus plant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FordBuyer Posted July 23, 2008 Author Share Posted July 23, 2008 IMO the most common sense would be to build the focus on MTP since its next to the focus plant According to NYT article, only the bodies will be built at MTP in one area of the huge plant. Wayne Stamping can't build enough to probably run eventual three shifts. The Focus is a big hit and reason they are hard to find on Dealer lot. The '09 Coupe should be more popular and so should the SEL model with all the goodies standard. Ford right now couldn't consistently sell 30,000 of them a month even is consistent demand were there. Ford needs to sell over 300,000 Focus/year and doesn't have the capacity right now to do so. MTP right now makes perfect sense to accomplish this necessary task since it's right next door and underused right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Footballfan Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 According to NYT article, only the bodies will be built at MTP in one area of the huge plant. Wayne Stamping can't build enough to probably run eventual three shifts. The Focus is a big hit and reason they are hard to find on Dealer lot. The '09 Coupe should be more popular and so should the SEL model with all the goodies standard. Ford right now couldn't consistently sell 30,000 of them a month even is consistent demand were there. Ford needs to sell over 300,000 Focus/year and doesn't have the capacity right now to do so. MTP right now makes perfect sense to accomplish this necessary task since it's right next door and underused right now. I don't know if MTP would be retooled to produce the current Focus. It would be wasteful to retool for a car that will just be around a year to be replaced by the Euro Focus. My hope is that Ford is not simply going to "merge" Wayne Assembly and MTP-using pieces of each- as a way to renege on their promises/product commitments they made to both plants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Footballfan Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 (edited) Reports say the Kuga and, C-Max are on the way to MTP This would make the most sense. MTP is geared toward tall vehichles, not cars. Probably less retooling costs as well compared to passenger cars. Edited July 23, 2008 by Footballfan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Footballfan Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 ABC News reported tonight and even interviewed MTP employees that they will be getting new cars to build. Looks like Expedition/Navigator move to Dearborn, Kentucky, or Kansas City. MTP is to be retooled for new European based cars. New F100 must be going to Dearborn as it is flexible plant. Those employees interviewed seemed relieved to hear the news that MTP still has life ahead of it. Good news for Michigan as we don't need another closed down plant. Wayne is humming now and hopefully MTP will do well again with new product. I wonder where Wayne Assembly fits in to all of this. If MTP gets the new Euro Focus, what happens to Wayne once that gets online? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ANTAUS Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 Wasn't Kuga to come and replace the Escape anyways, before this whole product turnaround direction came into play ? Supposedly Kuga was to replace the Escape as a compact SUV offering, or is Ford planning to continue the Escape has a truckier styled one and compliment it with a sophisticatedly styled Kuga ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcsario Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 Wasn't Kuga to come and replace the Escape anyways, before this whole product turnaround direction came into play ? Supposedly Kuga was to replace the Escape as a compact SUV offering, or is Ford planning to continue the Escape has a truckier styled one and compliment it with a sophisticatedly styled Kuga ? That has never made any sense to me. The real "next-gen" Kuga won't exist until at least MY13. Any Kuga launched in 2010 would be --at best-- the refresh of the current design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suv_guy_19 Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 That has never made any sense to me. The real "next-gen" Kuga won't exist until at least MY13. Any Kuga launched in 2010 would be --at best-- the refresh of the current design. I think that's always been the plan. Europe's refresh is our introduction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcsario Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 I think that's always been the plan. Europe's refresh is our introduction. All new tooling for only a 2 year run? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suv_guy_19 Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 All new tooling for only a 2 year run? I don't really know, its only what I've heard a few times here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 All new tooling for only a 2 year run? Well, I guess that depends how different they really expect the next all-new design to be. I think it would be a bit longer than 2 years though. The Kuga isn't exactly old now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snooter Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 Well, I guess that depends how different they really expect the next all-new design to be. I think it would be a bit longer than 2 years though. The Kuga isn't exactly old now. personally i think this is the fastest and smartest move i have seen ford make in a long time..it bodes well for the future and should help alleviate concerns on the line which is a damn good thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 personally i think this is the fastest and smartest move i have seen ford make in a long time..it bodes well for the future and should help alleviate concerns on the line which is a damn good thing I think we are jumping the gun a bit on any guesses for timeframes here. We should know tomorrow, but I don't see these vehicles being here for at least well over another year, no matter how quickly they try to move things. Only so much can be done at once, especially when considering things like tooling, stamping, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pioneer Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 If Michigan Truck is changed over to produce cars, will they change the name too? "Michigan Cars" just doesn't sound right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suv_guy_19 Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 If Michigan Truck is changed over to produce cars, will they change the name too? "Michigan Cars" just doesn't sound right. Michigan Assembly Plant.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 If Michigan Truck is changed over to produce cars, will they change the name too? "Michigan Cars" just doesn't sound right. Good point. :lol: How about "Wayne: Part Deux"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WXM69 Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 Michigan Assembly Plant....We'll need a map to find MAP? :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrbowler92 Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 Good point. :lol: How about "Wayne: Part Deux"? What about "Michigan Assembly Complex" Or "The Michigan Assembly Complex" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nvsked Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 What about "Michigan Assembly Complex" Or "The Michigan Assembly Complex" Sounds too complex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SalCange Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 I think the Kuga will be staying at KCAP. They've already ran a few models through the paint department. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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