OAKVILLE—Ford Motor Company of Canada says its plant Oakville will be building a new model of SUV, with production expected to begin this summer.The automaker says it has redesigned its Edge SUV for global export, with preparations already underway for production.Ford says it plans to export the vehicle that features an array of smart technology to 100 countries in 2019.But spokeswoman Lauren More says the company has no plans to hire more workers or change its operating pattern at the plant.The move comes a year after Ford pledged $1.2 billion over four years to retool its Canadian plants, and create a research and engineering centre in Ottawa. … [Read more...] about Ford plant in Oakville to build redesigned Edge SUV
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US Ford pickup owners warned after new Takata death
WASHINGTON: Ford Motor Co said Thursday it had confirmed a second death in a older pickup truck caused by a defective Takata airbag inflater and urged 2,900 owners in North America to stop driving immediately until they can get replacement parts. The second largest US automaker said it was able to confirm in late December that a July 2017 crash death in West Virginia in a 2006 Ford Ranger was caused by a defective Takata inflater.It previously reported a similar death in January 2016.Ford said both Takata deaths occurred with inflaters built on the same day.At least 21 deaths worldwide are believed linked to the Takata inflaters that can rupture and send deadly metal fragments that has led to the largest automotive recall in history.All of the other deaths have occurred in Honda Motor Co. … [Read more...] about US Ford pickup owners warned after new Takata death
Ford just updated a popular SUV with a version that’s ready to hit the race track
Ford unveiled its 2019 Edge ST, a high-performance version of its Edge SUV, on Thursday. The vehicle joins the Ford Performance lineup of vehicles, which includes the GT supercar and the Shelby GT350 Mustang Ford also refreshed the regular Edge with tech features that include the ability to locate, unlock, start, and lock the car with a mobile app and connect up to 10 devices using in-car WiFi. Ford has been using CES as an opportunity to outline its vision for a future of self-driving cars. But the company isn’t quite ready to give up on the driver. On Thursday, the carmaker pulled the cover off the lastest member of its Ford Performance division: the Edge ST SUV. The Edge ST – Ford’s first-ever race-ready ute – joins the hot-hatch Fiesta ST, the Focus ST and rally-ready Focus RS, the Shelby 350 and 350R Mustangs, the F-150 Raptor mega-pickup, and the $400,000 roadgoing version of the Le … [Read more...] about Ford just updated a popular SUV with a version that’s ready to hit the race track
Ford CEO says using self-driving cars for deliveries will be an ‘enormous’ opportunity
Ford plans to use its driverless cars to form a new logistics business. The company is building a platform that will allow businesses to use its autonomous vehicles to transport goods. For example, a local grocer could begin delivering to customers by partnering with Ford and using its autonomous cars to make deliveries. Hackett said the company still plans to build and sell cars, but that this new business model will allow it to tap into the “enormous” logistics opportunity. The new business could also help offset the loss of revenue during downturns in the auto industry, he said. Ford has big plans to cash in on driverless cars, but not in the way you might think. While most companies developing self-driving vehicles want to use them to move people, Ford wants to use them to move goods – at least at first. On Tuesday, the company announced it is working on an open platform … [Read more...] about Ford CEO says using self-driving cars for deliveries will be an ‘enormous’ opportunity
Ford CEO Jim Hackett has the toughest job in the auto industry ahead of him
Ford CEO Jim Hackett is redesigning the company to be a mobility provider to cities. At the same time, Ford’s business is still closely tied to traditional vehicle sales. His task is the most daunting since GM’s Alfred Sloan created the modern corporation in the 20th century. Last May, when then-CEO Mark Fields was ousted amid a lagging stock performance and former Steelcase chief Jim Hackett took over, the writing has been on the wall for Ford. Job One is to change the perception that Ford is falling behind on the market-moving stories about the future of the car business: electric vehicles and self-driving cars. It doesn’t matter to investors in the stodgy auto sector that EVs make up only about 1% of global sales and nobody has anything even vaguely resembling a fully autonomous car in commercial application. If Tesla can lose money hand over fist for 14 years but capture the imagination with $100,000 … [Read more...] about Ford CEO Jim Hackett has the toughest job in the auto industry ahead of him