Ford Motor Co. will invest $1.2 billion in three Michigan factories, paving the way for a return of the Ranger pickup and Bronco sport utility vehicle and winning praise from President Donald Trump.
About $1 billion of Ford’s spending will go toward engine and assembly plants for the Ranger and Bronco models that will replace production of slow-selling Focus compact cars, which is moving to Mexico. Another $200 million will go toward a new advanced data center at Ford’s factory in Flat Rock, Michigan, where the company already has said it will add 700 jobs.
The automaker’s announcement was previewed in an early morning tweet from Trump, who two weeks ago urged car companies to follow his pledge for eased regulations with more hiring.
“Big announcement by Ford today,” Trump posted early Tuesday. “Major investment to be made in three Michigan plants. Car companies coming back to U.S. JOBS! JOBS! JOBS!”
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