Ford to add more than 2,000 jobs in Kansas City

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From AB




Ford Adding 2,000-Plus Jobs at Kansas City Assembly Plant to Support
Surging F-150 Demand, Transit Launch

Ford's Kansas City Assembly Plant will add more than 2,000 jobs to
support high demand for F-150, plus the planned production of the
all-new Transit family of commercial vehicles starting next summer;
more than 1,000 will be new hires

Ford F-Series sales up 24 percent in April and 19 percent year to
date; full-size truck segment growing three times faster than industry
average and is fastest-growing segment this year

Ford has reached 75 percent of its goal to create 12,000 hourly jobs
in the United States by 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 2, 2013 Ford, the industry truck leader, will
add more than 2,000 jobs at its Kansas City Assembly Plant to meet
surging demand for the Ford F-150 and planned production of the
all-new Ford Transit.

"The housing market is strengthening, we are seeing growth in the
U.S. economy, and the truck segment is growing three times faster than
the overall industry," said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president of The
Americas. "Our Built Ford Tough F-150 is America's favorite
pickup, and we are going to step up operations at Kansas City to
ensure we have enough trucks to meet customer demand."

Ford is adding 900 jobs and a third crew in the third quarter to build
F-150. U.S. sales of Ford F-Series trucks increased 24 percent in
April and 19 percent year to date. Ford also is adding another 1,100
jobs starting in the fourth quarter to prepare for introduction of the
all-new Ford Transit full-size van in 2014.

"For customers who want a modern van that is as tough and smart
as the F-Series, the all-new Ford Transit van delivers with better
fuel economy, more capability, and the greatest number of technology
choices and innovative configurations full-size van buyers have ever
seen," Hinrichs said.

Kansas City Assembly

Kansas City Assembly Plant produces the Ford F-150 regular, SuperCab
and SuperCrew and will produce the Ford Transit. The plant currently
has 2,450 hourly employees working on two shifts and will add a third
crew in the third quarter.

Ford is investing $1.1 billion to retool and expand the facility for
production of both the F-150 and Transit, including a
437,000-square-foot stamping facility and a 78,000-square-foot paint
shop.

The new stamping facility was completed in 2012. The paint shop
expansion will include installation of the three-wet paint process,
which is more environmentally friendly and requires less time than
conventional paint processes without compromise to Ford paint
quality or durability.

"Today we celebrate the commitment to excellence displayed by the
men and women of Kansas City Assembly Plant," said Jimmy Settles,
UAW vice president and director of the National Ford Department.
"These additional jobs are the direct result of the dedicated
effort our UAW members display every day at facilities all across the
country, and serve as another reminder of the resilience of American
workers and our nation's manufacturing sector."

With the investment and new jobs at Kansas City, Ford is
three-quarters of the way to delivering on its plan to create 12,000
hourly jobs in the United States by 2015. The company also is
investing $16 billion in its U.S. product development and
manufacturing operations including $6.2 billion in plant-specific
investments. These actions, including today's announcements, are
consistent with Ford's previous 2013 financial guidance for the total
company and North America.

Community impact

The plant expansion has a major impact in the local community and
beyond. Kansas City Assembly Plant has more than 250 suppliers
nationally and more than 10 suppliers locally that will benefit from
the adding of a third crew. Additionally, when Transit production
starts next year, close to 275 suppliers nationally and six suppliers
locally will grow their businesses. According to the job multiplier
effect of nine jobs to every one more than 18,000 jobs will be
created to support the plant.

"Today's announcement is yet another testament to our successful
efforts to revitalize Missouri's automotive manufacturing industry,
which continues to gain steam," said Missouri Governor Jay Nixon.
"This third shift for production of the F-150 will create
hundreds of additional manufacturing jobs for workers in this region
and ensure Missouri continues to lead the rebirth of the American auto
industry for years to come."


Ford F-150
The Built Ford Tough F-150, part of the F-Series lineup, delivers the
segment's best combination of power, capability, safety and fuel
economy.

Now in its 65th year, F-Series has been the best-selling truck in
America for 36 consecutive years, the best-selling vehicle in America
for 31 consecutive years, and the brand with the most trucks on the
road with more than 250,000 miles on the odometer, as certified by
Polk.

The Kansas City-built F-150 is the first choice for tradespeople who
need the most durable, advanced truck on the market. For example,
F-150 leads in a variety of fields, including:

68 percent share in hazardous materials work
67 percent share in the oil pipeline industry
62 percent market share in road and highway maintenance

F-150 also boasts leading safety ratings. Its fully boxed frame, made
from high-strength hydroformed steel, provides a backbone built for
increased durability and safety. F-150 has earned top safety ratings
from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Overall, F-150 offers customers the broadest lineup in the segment
with 10 models, which include the work-ready XL, the sporty and
capable FX, the well-balanced XLT, the refined and luxurious Limited
and the no-compromise off-road SVT Raptor.

Ford F-150 also features an unrivaled four engine choices, including
the advanced 3.5-liter EcoBoost®, to help customers find the most
fuel-efficient and capable engine to meet their needs. Ford's patented
EcoBoost engine delivers an unmatched combination of best-in-class
towing and payload, torque and fuel economy. More than 300,000
EcoBoost engines have been sold for F-150; it is now Ford's
best-selling truck engine.


Ford Transit

The familiar van that delivers packages or shuttles airport passengers
is about to change in a revolutionary way. The all-new Ford Transit
will provide tradespeople and businesses with unmatched fuel economy,
innovative new configurations and leading versatility in the expanding
commercial vehicle market.

Transit is born from nearly a century of hard-earned experience
delivering two distinct full-size vans to customers in America, Europe
and other global markets. For the United States, Transit eventually
replaces E-Series, first sold in 1961 as Ford Econoline and America's
best-selling commercial van for 34 years. Transit was first sold in
1965. It's the best-selling commercial van in Europe.

Customers will have more choices than ever from a Ford van. Transit
will be offered in three body lengths, two wheelbases and three roof
heights. Cargo volume ranges from about 250 to almost 500 cubic feet
more than twice the volume of today's standard E-Series, saving the
customer fuel costs and the time and hassle of a second delivery
trip.

Designed and developed to provide efficient service over the long
haul, Ford Transit will be at least 25 percent more fuel-efficient
than E-Series, helping save Transit owners thousands of dollars in
fuel costs over its service life.

Transit has been tested to the Built Ford Tough truck standards at
Ford's proving grounds and in the hands of real-world fleet customers
in North America.