Autoblog

Ford to add 1,200 workers at Flat Rock plant

Jeffrey N. Ross — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 17:35:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Plants/Manufacturing, Ford

With the 2014 Mazda6 being built in Japan, Ford is filling the production capacity at its Flat Rock Assembly plant (previously known as AutoAlliance International) with the 2013 Ford Fusion. The new Fusion goes on sale this fall, and while early versions of the car will continue to be made in Hermosillo, Mexico, production will switch to the Flat Rock, Mich. plant early next year.

Currently, that plant only builds the Ford Mustang, and to prepare for the higher volume that the Fusion will bring, Ford has announced it will be adding 1,200 new jobs to the plant in addition to a $555 million upgrade to the paint and body shops. Not only will this upgrade allow Flat Rock to be a more flexible plant, it will also allow it to be more environmentally friendly with a 3-Wet paint process that creates fewer pollutants and lowers overall paint costs.

The plant is still owned 50/50 between Ford and Mazda, but it will be managed 100 percent by Ford Motor Company going forward. Once Fusion production begins, Flat Rock Assembly will employ a total of 2,900 workers.

Continue reading Ford to add 1,200 workers at Flat Rock plant

Ford to add 1,200 workers at Flat Rock plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Sep 2012 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is the Ford Mustang plant in jeopardy now that Mazda is pulling out of Flat Rock?

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Plants/Manufacturing, Ford, Mazda

Once the current Mazda6 reaches the end of its life cycle, Mazda will begin production on the next-generation car. The automaker won't be building the midsize sedan in the U.S. anymore. Currently, the Mazda6 is built in Flat Rock, Michigan, at the AutoAlliance International assembly facility that the Japanese automaker shares with Ford. The Blue Oval brand churns out the Mustang in Flat Rock, and with Mazda moving on, there could be trouble ahead for the pony car.

According to analysts polled by Bloomberg, the current pace of Mustang production is not enough on its own to sustain the Flat Rock plant. The AAI has a capacity of 240,000 vehicles in a year, yet the Mustang sold 73,716 units in 2010. Ford is reportedly working with Mazda to find other uses for the site, which would be a better alternative to having Mazda simply walk away.

The flipside of Mazda ending U.S. production of its Mazda6 is that Ford will have increased options as to what it can do with the Mustang. Still, unless the Blue Oval starts churning out a hybrid, wagon, crossover and pickup truck version, Ford will need something else to keep Flat Rock in the business of building cars, especially until the 'Stan's next scheduled redesign for 2014.

Is the Ford Mustang plant in jeopardy now that Mazda is pulling out of Flat Rock? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mazda to abandon MI joint-venture plant with Ford

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Ford, Mazda

Mazda6 s Grand Touring - Click above for high-res image gallery

AutoAlliance International is located in Flat Rock, Michigan, and the factory serves as a joint-venture assembly plant for Ford and Mazda. The Blue Oval builds the Mustang, while its Japanese partner churns out the Mazda6. There seems to be a problem, though - at least on Mazda's end of the partnership.

Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), is reporting that Mazda is looking to get out of the venture. According to the report, the automaker will remove itself from the partnership by as early as 2013, sending Mazda6 production back to its Yamaguchi prefecture facilities in Japan. Mazda's profits are understood to be hurting due to the yen-dollar exchange rate, and the Mazda6's less-than-stellar sales volumes in the States can't be helping, either.

Both Ford and Mazda are dismissing the report as speculative, but Mazda admits it has been discussing "future plans" for the facility.

Mazda to abandon MI joint-venture plant with Ford originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mazda6, Subaru Tribeca headed for the exit ramp?

Chris Shunk — Tue, 10 May 2011 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Mazda, Subaru

Mazda6 and Subaru Tribeca - Click either image for high-res gallery

The Subaru Tribeca and Mazda6 haven't exactly set the U.S. auto market ablaze, and a report in AutoWeek (citing Japan's Nikkan Kogyo) claims that both models could meet an untimely demise.

The Tribeca has been unpopular seemingly since the day it was introduced as the B9 Tribeca, and recent sales figures show that the Subaru crossover has only found 910 new homes so far in 2011. Subaru attempted to increase interest in the CUV by giving it a new face, but buyers have been mostly unimpressed. And since other Subaru models are selling like hotcakes, the Tribeca is doing little more than taking up space at the automaker's Indiana assembly plant. The automaker has reportedly already stopped research and development on the next generation Tribeca, which definitely isn't a good sign.

While the Tribeca has been something of a sales catastrophe, the Mazda6 hasn't been quite as big of a dud, but it has serially underperformed. Mazda was looking to move about 100,000 units per year out of its Flat Rock, MI plant, but sales haven't been quite so robust. The Japanese automaker sold only 45,168 units in 2010, which has led to speculation that Mazda may quit producing the model at the facility.

Mazda hasn't divulged any plans regarding the 6, but speculation is that the automaker could move out of Flat Rock altogether, leaving the facility to Ford, which produces the Mustang at the plant. One rumor has Mazda moving to a new facility in Mexico, where labor costs are much lower than in the States.

If Subaru opts to stop making the Tribeca in the U.S., the CUV is likely dead forever. That's not necessarily the case with the Mazda6, though, as Mazda could potentially import the mid-size sedan from other markets. Neither Subaru or Mazda have announced any plans about either vehicle or their production plans in North America.

Mazda6, Subaru Tribeca headed for the exit ramp? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 May 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Mazda mulling fate of MI joint-venture plant with Ford

Chris Shunk — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Ford, Mazda

2009 Mazda6 s Grand Touring - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Flat Rock, MI plant that Mazda and Ford currently share is the only facility in the U.S. where the Japanese automaker currently builds vehicles. But sales of the Mazda6 were down to 45,000 units in 2010, and, combined with Mustang production, the facility is only able to run one shift. That's just not profitable.

Automotive News reports that the Japanese automaker is weighing it's options at the facility. Those choices could include overhauling the facility to produce a greater variety of models, handing over the facility to Ford or something a bit darker. AN reports that, when asked whether the plant could be closed, Mazda CFO Kiyoshi Ozaki replied, "Never say never."

Complicating the issue is the fact that Mazda already exports 80 percent of all vehicles from Japan. That's a problem since the Yen has risen to a 15-year high, which could make profits difficult to come by. In fact, Mazda lost $32.5 million in the last quarter of 2010.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Mazda6 s Grand Touring

Photos Copyright (C)2011 John Neff / AOL

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Report: Mazda mulling fate of MI joint-venture plant with Ford originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Ford reassigns 900 from Mustang/Mazda6 plant in Flat Rock

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Plants/Manufacturing, Ford, Mazda

Even though sales of its Mustang have been solid and even improving as of late, the powers that be have reportedly decided to eliminate the second shift at the Auto Alliance International (AAI) factory that assembles the Blue Oval's pony as well as the slow-selling Mazda6. The factory in Flat Rock, MI which is jointly owned by Ford and Mazda had originally planned to lay off 900 employees, but Ford has now opted to reassign the workers to other facilities.

According to the Detroit Free Press, excess capacity and low sales volumes were causing a lot of downtime at the plant with two shifts operating. AAI will now run a single shift with an increased line rate to meet production requirements. According to Ford, 1,766 employees remain at the plant.

[Source: Detroit Free Press | Image: Ford]

Report: Ford reassigns 900 from Mustang/Mazda6 plant in Flat Rock originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Neat Trick: Ford nixing 900 jobs in Flat Rock while expanding production of Mustang, Mazda6

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:32:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Plants/Manufacturing, Hatchback, Ford, Mazda

The desire to make more of the Ford Mustang and Mazda6, while improving efficiency and quality, is leading Ford to cut, not add jobs at its Flat Rock Assembly Plant. The plant's 2,280-strong workforce is expected to decrease by 900, with Ford reducing the number of shifts from two to one and increasing the line speed by 35 percent.

Moving to just a single shift will help stabilize assembly at the plant, which produced 109,000 vehicles last year but experienced a lot of downtime when new vehicle sales cratered. In turn, the workers who remain to work the single shift should appreciate less idle time away from the job and stay sharper as a result, thereby increasing quality as well.

Those workers who have been cut will be moved to the Chicago assembly plant to help build the new Ford Explorer later this year, while others will be transferred to Michigan Assembly to build the new Ford Focus. Those not given new positions will be offered contract buyouts.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Neat Trick: Ford nixing 900 jobs in Flat Rock while expanding production of Mustang, Mazda6 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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