Ford to invest up to $500 million in Michigan to build batteries, EVs, hybrids

FoMoCo is planning an investment of $300 million to $500 million in Michigan assembly plants to produce hybrid, electric-vehicles and batteries. However, Ford is facing obstacles due to Michigan’s willingness to grand the Dearborn automaker millions in tax credits, spokeswoman Jennifer Moore told Automotive News.

Ford plans on building lithium-ion batteries for feature hybrid and electric-vehicles. Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s global product development chief, said that 1,000 jobs could be created in Michigan if the vehicle battery pack assembly is brought to the state. Currently, battery packs for the Ford Fusion Hybrid Mercury Milan Hybrid sedans are built in Hermosillo, Mexico.

Ford’s electric-vehicle would be built on the company’s global C platform, which currently underpins the Focus sedan that is built at the Michigan Assembly Plant in suburban Detroit.

Ford has a Focus BEV concept that is based on the five-door European production Focus ST. The prototype currently runs laps on The Jay Leno Show segment called “Green Car Challenge. The model was modified into a Focus BEV by engineers in Dearborn, where they removed the engine and gas tank and installed an entire electric powertrain. The prototype makes 141-hp and a maximum torque of 236 lb-ft. It has a single-speed gearbox, MacPherson-type struts on the front suspension and Independent short-long arm (SLA), control blade multi-link system in the back.

– By: Kap Shah