Ford Motors announced it would manufacture the new Focus in China, rather than Mexico as previously planned
American consumers will be buying Ford Motor’s next-generation small car from a plant in China instead of Mexico, the company announced on Tuesday, to the New York Times. In 2019, after production ends at the current factory in Michigan, the second-largest car company in America will move Ford Focus manufacturing to China, the Times reported. Ford had originally planned to open a new $1.6 billion plant in Mexico, but, facing pressure from President Donald Trump, they canceled those plans and chose China instead. According to the Times, Ford will also be investing “$900 million in a Kentucky plant to produce new versions of its Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator sport-utility vehicles, ” which the company said will save 1,000 jobs at the plant. It’s a bit peculiar that President Trump would push Ford out of Mexico and into China, especially after campaigning on a promise of preventing factory jobs from leaving the United States — though admittedly, Trump is not known for consistency. “I beat the people from China. I win against China. You can win against China if you’ re smart. But our people don’ t have a clue. We give state dinners to the heads of China. I said why are you doing state dinners for them? They’ re ripping us left and right. Just take them to McDonald’s and go back to the negotiating table, ” Trump in July 2015.
