Ford has confirmed that the all-new 2005 Ford Mustang will be built at AutoAlliance International (AAI) in Flat Rock, Michigan. The AAI plant is a 50-50 joint venture between Ford and Mazda.
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The Mustang’s new assembly line will allow the AutoAlliance plant to build nearly 300,000 vehicles annually by 2005 or 2006, plant officials said, and adds capacity for additional models.
To mark the announcement, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, accompanied by Jim Padilla, executive vice president and president for Ford North America, drove a red convertible Mustang concept onto the floor of the AAI assembly plant to applause from 1,100 employees and guests.
“I’m proud that our state provided the right business environment to convince Ford to keep Mustang production in Michigan and create 1,400 jobs,” Granholm said. “We estimate those jobs will ultimately generate employment for another 6,300 residents within our state indirectly. It’s good to know that Ford is adding more horsepower to Mustang and Michigan’s economy.”
Padilla said that after 39 years as America’s pony car, “we are excited that Mustang is moving to a new home at AAI. As one of America’s most widely acclaimed cars of all time, Mustang’s legendary nameplate will continue to be produced at one of Ford’s best assembly plants.”
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By GlobalDataAs part of the transformation toward more flexible manufacturing operations at Ford’s North American assembly plants, Ford and AAI are investing more than $644 million in new equipment, including adding a second line in the body shop to accommodate the new Mustang.
Both lines have the capacity to run two platforms and run four models or body styles off each platform. While Mustang and Mazda6 will run on separate lines in the body shop, they will be produced on the same trim, chassis and final lines.
“We will have the ability to change the mix, volume and options of products – all with minimal investment and changeover loss,” said Phil Spender, AAI president.
AAI will be among the first wave of Ford plants to install next-generation flexible body systems.
Four Ford assembly plants that will build the new 2004 Ford F-150 and the new 2005 Ford Freestyle and Ford Five Hundred will be the first to have new flexible production systems installed.
Over the next decade, Ford expects to save up to $2 billion because its flexible system will cost 10 percent to 15 percent less than traditional systems, with an added 50 percent savings in changeover costs.
Ford’s flexible body shops employ a system of 16 standardised cells, or modules, all built from about 300 components. Only product-specific tooling will need to be changed, or computers and robots reprogrammed, to launch new products.
By mid-decade in North America, about half of Ford’s body shops, trim and final assembly operations will be flexible. That number rises to 75 percent by the end of the decade.
Production of the all-new Mustang, which is expected to add a second shift of employment at the plant, will begin in the autumn (fall) of 2004.
The Mustang had been built at the Dearborn assembly plant, which will be shut down next year when Ford brings its rebuilt Rouge plant on stream.
