Posted on 12/13/2013 8:10:00 AM PST by robowombat
Get today's manufacturing headlines and news - Sign up now! DEARBORN, Michigan (AP) -- Ford Motor Co. says it will hire more than 11,000 people in the U.S. and Asia next year to support an aggressive rollout of new vehicles.
Joe Hinrichs, Ford's president of the Americas, said the company plans to hire 5,000 workers in the U.S. — including 3,300 white-collar staff like engineers — and 6,000 workers in Asia. Many of those hires will work at two new plants that are opening in China.
This will be the most people Ford has hired in one year since 2000, the company said.
Hinrichs said 2014 will be the busiest product year in Ford's 111-year history, with 23 new vehicles being introduced around the world. Of those, 16 will be sold in the U.S., including a new Mustang sports car, Transit Connect van and Lincoln MKC small utility.
Ford has had some quality problems with vehicles launched in the last two years. The new Lincoln MKZ sedan was delayed in the spring to fix some quality issues, and Ford recently recalled its Escape SUV for the seventh time, this time to fix oil and fuel leaks.
Hinrichs said Ford has spent the last year improving its processes so those issues won't mar vehicle launches in 2014.
Hinrichs made the announcement at an event to introduce a new Ford research vehicle that's testing driverless technology. The car — a souped-up Fusion hybrid sedan — has four sensors, developed by the University of Michigan, that can track moving objects by the light reflected from them. It uses that data to make three-dimensional maps and tell the car if an object is in the way.
Raj Nair, head of global product development for Ford, said the car is unique because it integrates the sensor data with advanced features that are already offered today, including a collision warning system and blind-spot detection. Some other driverless cars being tested don't have those features, he said.
We buy less than 1 yr old luxury cars and get fabulous deals on them. Bought my Jag that way and just recently purchased a Mercedes GLK with less than 8k miles on it the same way.
Just bought the missus a Mini Cooper Clubman S... 5 years old with 14.5K on it. :) THAT was a bargain. The thing is a hoot to drive, too. Like brand new.
I love the mini cooper and actually like the new Fiats, sister in law has one. They would be great for just running around town.
Sounds serious. Hope they have a good plan to address these problems...
Hinrichs made the announcement at an event to introduce a new Ford research vehicle that's testing driverless technology. The car — a souped-up Fusion hybrid sedan — has four sensors, developed by the University of Michigan, that can track moving objects by the light reflected from them. It uses that data to make three-dimensional maps and tell the car if an object is in the way.
...and there we go! Electronic doodads that no one wants or needs. Way to tackle those core problems!
I will still never ever buy a goobermint motors car. Besides as a taxpayer they still owe me a couple for bailing them out. I hop the company goes bankrupt and goes out of business permanently. FGM
That’s how we feel shopping for a family SUV.
8 years old and 100,000 miles is the new “affordable”.
I’d take one of those, but would prefer the 2013 Boss 302.
I’ve heard the channel stuffing argument for 3 years. But retail sales really are pretty solid, though certainly not at the level pre-crash. Of course that was when everybody was using their home equity as a credit card.
With the avg age of vehicles on road at an all time high, sales pretty much have to happen.
How can a person who had a $12000 deductible for his health insurance possibly afford a new car? I predict a new type of loan, financing to pay deductible and co-pays.
Used vehicles today are a heckuva lot better than they were 25 years ago. Cars do last longer today.
Why, are parts stores and mechanics closing up shop?
That WAS the function of an HSA.
I think the death blow in a lot of cases is a $1500 repair on a car perceived to be worth $3000.
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