CEO Mark Fields Says Ford Still Moving Small-Car Output to Mexico Despite Trump Criticism

By Christina Rogers and Mike Spector 

Ford Motor Co. will forge ahead with shifting small-car production to Mexico despite repeated criticism from President-elect Donald Trump, who has pledged that companies will face "consequences" for leaving the U.S.

Ford's plan to move production of the Focus small car from a Michigan factory to a facility in Mexico, which isn't expected to result in job losses, remains on track for 2018, Chief Executive Mark Fields said in an interview on Friday.

"We have made the decision to move the Focus out and we're making that investment now," Mr. Fields said. "When you look at moving the Focus out of our Michigan assembly plant, that's to make room for new products -- zero jobs affected, zero jobs impacted."

The Dearborn, Mich., auto maker is expected to replace the cars with profitable pickup trucks and sport-utility vehicles to keep the Michigan plant humming, amid soaring demand for such vehicles. Unionized auto workers will keep their jobs and potentially receive larger profit-sharing checks should Ford's margins increase.

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 02, 2016 16:28 ET (21:28 GMT)

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