Ford Moving Small Car Production To Mexico

In April, Ford reiterated that it was planning to build two new vehicles at the Wayne plant beginning in 2018. Analysts have said they expect Ford to build a new Bronco SUV and Ranger pickup there.
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Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV said in April that it would realign North American plants to emphasize truck and Jeep production over car output. The changes are expected to be completed by early 2018.

Both automakers are making the moves because U.S. consumers have turned away from traditional sedans and hatchbacks to SUVs and pickup trucks.
The United Auto Workers has said the number of auto assembly jobs would not decline because workers would be busy making SUVs and pickup trucks.

However, UAW President Dennis Williams has said there was a risk that if gasoline prices rose again above $4 per gallon as in mid-2008, consumers might once again favor smaller cars.]/quote]
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Contract talks going on in Canada at the moment. I hope there is not even more work lost here.
 

QuickSilver said:
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV said in April that it would realign North American plants to emphasize truck and Jeep production over car output. The changes are expected to be completed by early 2018.

Both automakers are making the moves because U.S. consumers have turned away from traditional sedans and hatchbacks to SUVs and pickup trucks.
The United Auto Workers has said the number of auto assembly jobs would not decline because workers would be busy making SUVs and pickup trucks.

However, UAW President Dennis Williams has said there was a risk that if gasoline prices rose again above $4 per gallon as in mid-2008, consumers might once again favor smaller cars.]/quote]
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'
The 'number' of jobs might not be affected but those who will actually lose their job in the production of small cars probably will be.
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The "name plate" on many of today"s cars hardly reflects where that car is Really manufactured. The MOST American car today is a Toyota Camry....it is built in the U.S. and contains almost 85% U.S. made parts. Compare that to dozens of Ford/Chevy/Chrysler brands which are assembled in Mexico and Canada, and have barely more than 50% US parts. Corporate America has little concern for Made in America, and moves their production to locations where they can control costs, and maintain profits. If all the stuff made overseas...China, etc., were banned, our store shelves would be empty overnight.

Some of this "transition" has to be blamed on the American consumer, and their constant search for the "cheapest" product. Our people are unwilling, or unable, to support the higher wages of American factory workers. It all comes down to the decline of our once vibrant Middle Class, and the stagnant wages being offered over the past couple of decades....and the fact that Income Inequality is increasing, and will continue to threaten our entire economy.
 
Don M. said:
The "name plate" on many of today"s cars hardly reflects where that car is Really manufactured. The MOST American car today is a Toyota Camry....it is built in the U.S. and contains almost 85% U.S. made parts. Compare that to dozens of Ford/Chevy/Chrysler brands which are assembled in Mexico and Canada, and have barely more than 50% US parts. Corporate America has little concern for Made in America, and moves their production to locations where they can control costs, and maintain profits. If all the stuff made overseas...China, etc., were banned, our store shelves would be empty overnight.

Some of this "transition" has to be blamed on the American consumer, and their constant search for the "cheapest" product. Our people are unwilling, or unable, to support the higher wages of American factory workers. It all comes down to the decline of our once vibrant Middle Class, and the stagnant wages being offered over the past couple of decades....and the fact that Income Inequality is increasing, and will continue to threaten our entire economy.
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Yeah, but it's a vicious circle, because the reason most people are looking for the cheapest product is because our economy has gone south and nobody has any money.

When I was looking for a replacement car for my Saturn that died in the street, I found that most American cars (at least cars with American names) were priced way out of my league and so I bought a Kia (which I like, BTW). I would have preferred a Ford, but even the used ones were SO much more than the Kia. Anything comparably priced was crap. I bought the 2 year old Kia for about $6-8,000 less than I could buy a comparable American car.
 
Butterfly said:
Yeah, but it's a vicious circle, because the reason most people are looking for the cheapest product is because our economy has gone south and nobody has any money.

When I was looking for a replacement car for my Saturn that died in the street, I found that most American cars (at least cars with American names) were priced way out of my league and so I bought a Kia (which I like, BTW). I would have preferred a Ford, but even the used ones were SO much more than the Kia. Anything comparably priced was crap. I bought the 2 year old Kia for about $6-8,000 less than I could buy a comparable American car.
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I've tried working on Kias(minor stuff) and you wouldn't believe how tough information is to come by on models from early this century. They remind of mid size Chevies from the 1980s and 90s as far as size. They load up the cars with maybe $500 to $1000 in options which seems to add $5,000 plus to the price of the car. The consumer is driving the options as 'standard'.

Ironically it's about 10 years since Ford opened their 2 BILLION plant in Brazil.
 
Mine is a 2014 Kia Forte and I like it a lot. Great gas mileage, handles well and it runs SO quietly and has a great ride and feels quite solid, if you know what I mean. It has all the bells and whistles I need. I drove a couple of Fords, but they felt flimsy and didn't ride nearly as well. I started out looking for an American car (I've always bought American cars, except for an old VW we had in Germany), but I really couldn't afford one. They are pricing themselves out of the little guy's range (at least this little guy's).
 
Butterfly said:
Mine is a 2014 Kia Forte and I like it a lot. Great gas mileage, handles well and it runs SO quietly and has a great ride and feels quite solid, if you know what I mean. It has all the bells and whistles I need. I drove a couple of Fords, but they felt flimsy and didn't ride nearly as well. I started out looking for an American car (I've always bought American cars, except for an old VW we had in Germany), but I really couldn't afford one. They are pricing themselves out of the little guy's range (at least this little guy's).
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I've know people who had good luck with small Fords including the ever dreaded gas can called the Pinto. The Pinto and Escort rode like a small car and would get beat up if you drove recklessly. But avoid collisions and poor roads and keep up maintenance you get over 10 years.

One of the biggest things I've noticed about newer cars is they frequently come with the fancy wheels/rims which tend to use low profile tires which are a flats waiting to happen. Don't buy but always have them throw in a tire and wheel road warranty in with the car. Will get a flat with in months of purchase. Some of the Fords use 130 dollar tires. Flats or rips in a tire sidewall mandate a replacement. Replacing a high end tire is not cheap.
 

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