Ford adding 3,000 jobs and investing $1.45B into southeast Michigan

(FOX 2) - Ford Motor Co. is adding 3,000 jobs at two factories in the Detroit area and investing $1.45 billion to build new pickup trucks, SUVs, and electric and autonomous vehicles. 

The company said Tuesday that about $750 million will go to the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne. 

The factory will get 2,700 new jobs over the next three years. That plant will be where the new Ford Bronco and Ranger will be built. The plant will include a modification center to support autonomous vehicles.

The company plans to invest another $700 million and add 300 jobs at the Dearborn plant. That will be where the new Ford F-150, F-150 hybrid, and the all-electric F-150 will be built. It will also include battery assembly. The F-150 is the top-selling vehicle in the U.S. and is Ford’s franchise, generating most of the company’s profits.

Also the Wayne plant, Ford plans to have its first autonomous vehicles starting in 2021, which includes installing the self-driving technology and interiors. Ford says those are both unique to the brand.

"This will be the first center of its kind for Ford and will drive synergies with the company's existing AV research functions in Dearborn and Detroit," Ford said in a statement.

Ford says this billion-dollar investment will bolster their position as "America's No. 1 producer of vehicles and the largest employer of UAW-represented autoworkers."

Michigan’s economic-development arm, the Michigan Strategic Fund, on Tuesday approved state tax incentives for Ford that are worth approximately $35 million over 15 years. Michigan was chosen for the expansions over competing sites in Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Canada, Mexico and countries outside North America, according to the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

“This is great news for Michigan autoworkers, their families and our economy as a whole,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement. “I’m glad Ford recognizes that Michigan is home to some of the most innovative, hardworking people in the world, and has opened up opportunities for 3,000 new good-paying jobs in our state.”

In seeking approval of the tax breaks, state officials said the incentives would offset some of the increased costs associated with doing business in Michigan instead of competing locations.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.