Ford Moving 1,150 Jobs In Michigan, Kentucky

DETROIT - Ford is shuffling workers at several factories so it can make more hot-selling full-size SUVs, according to the Associated Press. The company says the moves will increase production of Lincoln Navigators and Ford Expeditions.

Ford plans to add 500 jobs at the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville that makes the SUVs. It also will add 500 at a factory in Livonia that produces SUV and truck transmissions. Also, about 500 workers at the Louisville Assembly Plant who make the slow-selling Ford Escape small SUV will be diverted to Kentucky Truck to make big SUVs.

In addition, about 650 workers at a car factory in Flat Rock will move to the transmission plant or other openings. The plant in Flat Rock makes the Ford Mustang sports car and Lincoln Continental full-size car.

Ford says the jobs will be filled internally and there won’t be layoffs.

Navigator sales are up 81 percent through October, while Expedition sales rose 3.9 percent.

The announcement comes two days after General Motors announced plans to close five factories and lay off as many as 6,000 blue-collar workers. The move has brought criticism from President Donald Trump and auto unions in the U.S. and Canada.

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