Ford to build electric Focus in Wayne, retool plant, preserves about 3,200 jobs

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.freep.com/article/20090506/BUSINESS01/90506024/Ford+to+build+electric+Focus+in+Wayne++retool+plant

Ford to build electric Focus in Wayne, retool plant
BY BRENT SNAVELY • FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER • May 6, 2009

Updated at 1:12 p.m.

About 300 UAW workers, Ford Executives and politicians celebrated Ford Motor Co.’s announcement today that it will not only build the Ford Focus at its Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, but also will built an electric version of the car.

Ford’s $550-million investment preserves about 3,200 jobs and will help the state transform its image from a rust belt state to a green belt state, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm said.

“Thank you for choosing Michigan,” Granholm said. “They could have chosen to go somewhere else in the world, but they chose to have American workers make this car.”

Ford is in the process of transforming Michigan Assembly, previously known as Michigan Truck, from a plant that previously built large SUV's into a plant that will build the compact European version of the Ford Focus starting next year. And, starting in 2011, Ford plans to begin building an electric version of the Ford Focus.

[GKirk]

1. I will gladly

take any kind of good news in Michigan. Heck if Right to Life announced that they were hiring I'd be happy. (kidding)

[Fire1]

2. K&R

[Earth_First]

3. K&R for the stability of 3200 American families! nt

[rucky]

4. I'd trade in my Prius for one of those.

:thumbsup:

[Gold Metal Flake]

5. I did not know about the electric Focus.

I love my 2007 Focus wagon, and would like to have another Focus for commuting so my wife can have the Focus wagon to replace out 1990 Colony Park wagon (it's old, but it's still in the crate!). I was gonna buy used, but I may have to nurse the CP a while longer and get that electric one. Anyone have a link to any info on it?