mackinaw Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 From Reuters: Jan 14 Ford Motor Co will announce a new automobile plant in the Mexican state of San Luis Potosi during the first quarter, two government officials familiar with company plans said on Thursday. The plant should produce around 350,000 cars annually, according to the two officials, and the investment should be worth slightly over $1.5 billion, one of them said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Ford Mexico had no immediate comment. http://www.reuters.com/article/ford-motor-mexico-idUSL2N14Y1VR20160114 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 This would coincide with moving Focus and C-Max to Mexico. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzcat Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 (edited) Interesting... San Luis Potosi is roughly half way between Hermosillo (Fusion/MKZ) and Cuautitlán (Fiesta). We have been assuming that Focus/C-Max will be moving to Cuautitlán and Fiesta will be consolidated in Thailand. So this changes things quite a bit. Cuautitlán can now stay as Fiesta plant and add new SUV (EcoSport). A new plant in San Luis Potosi can handle Focus, C-Max, and perhaps Transit Connect. The new Focus based PHEV goes to Hermosillo with Fusion/MKZ (that plant is already setup for PHEV assembly). Edited January 14, 2016 by bzcat 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
03 LS Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 ... A new plant in San Luis Potosi can handle Focus, C-Max, and perhaps Transit Connect. ... And, overflow production of Escape, maybe?Make it an ultimate C platform hub! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 And, overflow production of Escape, maybe? Make it an ultimate C platform hub! While that makes sense, I can't see escape production moving to Mexico, OAC still seems more likely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzcat Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 (edited) And, overflow production of Escape, maybe? Make it an ultimate C platform hub! Not with only 350k unit capacity per Reuters. Although that could be just 2 shifts... so 500k with 3 shifts? Edited January 14, 2016 by bzcat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 Sounds like this new plant will be commissioned for the new B and C cars while Cuautitlan may be repurposed for something else after products are launched at the new plant Suddenly Ford seems to have a lot more capacity just in front of the next Bargaining round, that may or may not be a factor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pioneer Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 Suddenly Ford seems to have a lot more capacity just in front of the next Bargaining round, that may or may not be a factor It will only be a problem depending on the economy. If we are still pumping out trucks and SUV's as fast as they can be sold, there will be no problem. A slowdown in trucks and cars are booming will be a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyle Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 I could see why Ford would want to keep this very quiet just from a political front with Trump having more ammunition to blast the company. I'm probably wrong that politics has anything to do with it but not sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pioneer Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/ford-plans-auto-plant-mexicos-182538711.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker16 Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 (edited) They should not build another 350,000 unit plant they don't need it. BTW I Called this months ago. Edited January 15, 2016 by Biker16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pioneer Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 Maybe they do. Focus/C-max replacement and transit connect in the new plant. Fusion and MkZ stays in Hermosillo. Fiesta and Ecosport type SUV in Cuautitlán. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 They should not build another 350,000 unit plant they don't need it. BTW I Called this months ago. Weren't you complaining in another thread about how they don't have any plans for future expansion? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker16 Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 Maybe they do. Focus/C-max replacement and transit connect in the new plant. Fusion and MkZ stays in Hermosillo. Fiesta and Ecosport type SUV in Cuautitlán. This plant should be the same size as HAP, or 100,000 units a shift per year , not the 130,000 a shift at MAP I cannot foresee the need for more I think, The Complexity of building the TC, C-max and focus on the same line is too much to overcome. Especially if this line is long and fast. The build variation will make this extremely difficult. Although the TC is on the same platform it is a complex product, with alot variations and size constraints,, not present in the Focus or C-max. IF the TC is built in this new plant, it would be best if it shared a separate line with the C-max, escape or MKC not with the Focus. In the end, I think the TC will end up a MAP, built along side the Ranger, Bronco and New HEV, why? Buy america, rules on Federally funded purchases, no Compact Van is being produced in the US if the TC is built in the US Ford would have that market to itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker16 Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 Weren't you complaining in another thread about how they don't have any plans for future expansion? They didn't have any plans until now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blazerdude20 Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 They didn't have any plans until now. Public plans yes, but I guarantee this has been in the works for a couple years. You don't make a 1.5B decision on a whim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker16 Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 Public plans yes, but I guarantee this has been in the works for a couple years. You don't make a 1.5B decision on a whim I cannot read minds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 Which is why you shouldn't keep making assumptions about what Ford is or isn't doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker16 Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 Which is why you shouldn't keep making assumptions about what Ford is or isn't doing. Question, Why was the Refresh on the Focus and Fusion So minimal. I'll wait for your reply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 (edited) Question, Why was the Refresh on the Focus and Fusion So minimal. I'll wait for your reply. I don't consider sync 3 and a 2.7LEB Sport model to be minimal. That to me is more significant than just changing the sheetmetal. Ford either doesn't believe it needs to do more or it has higher priorities on which to spend that time and effort. That's the case with every business decision they make. Edited January 15, 2016 by akirby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 Where do you think the $4.5B for electrification is coming from? The capital fairy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker16 Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 Ford either doesn't believe it needs to do more or it has higher priorities on which to spend that time and effort. That's the case with every business decision they make. Sounds like an Assuption to me, but I digress Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 Sounds like an Assuption to me, but I digress Those are the only two possible explanations so it's not an assumption to say that it's one of those two. If you have a 3rd option I'm all eyes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzcat Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 This plant should be the same size as HAP, or 100,000 units a shift per year , not the 130,000 a shift at MAP I cannot foresee the need for more I think, The Complexity of building the TC, C-max and focus on the same line is too much to overcome. Especially if this line is long and fast. The build variation will make this extremely difficult. Although the TC is on the same platform it is a complex product, with alot variations and size constraints,, not present in the Focus or C-max. IF the TC is built in this new plant, it would be best if it shared a separate line with the C-max, escape or MKC not with the Focus. In the end, I think the TC will end up a MAP, built along side the Ranger, Bronco and New HEV, why? Buy america, rules on Federally funded purchases, no Compact Van is being produced in the US if the TC is built in the US Ford would have that market to itself. Good point about build variation and Buy America requirements. 350k capacity is really only good for Focus and C-Max now that I think about it... US, Canada, Mexico, South America - that's about all the capacity. So Transit Connect will have to be made in the US. Question is where... MAP with Ranger? Ohio with medium duty? Flat Rock with Continental and Mustang? Those are the only real options. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 ^you can take FRAP off that list. TC is way too tall for that plant. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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