Still, Ford’s small-car production shift is sure to draw the ire of many, especially as the issue of outsourcing has been so central to presidential candidate Donald Trump’s campaign this election cycle.
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Trump also criticized Ford Wednesday after Fields told Wall Street investors that the automaker would move all small auto production to Mexico over the next two to three years.
Trump has on multiple occasions vowed to impose up to a 35 percent tariff on any Mexican-built Ford cars the automaker tries to sell in the U.S. Fields declined to say if that action would stop Ford’s plan if Trump is elected.
Trump was in Flint on Wednesday, where he reportedly called Ford’s decision “horrible” and said the move would result in lost jobs.
“They think they’re going to get away with this and they fire all their employees in the United States and. move to Mexico”, said Trump. Even though Ford is expanding in Mexico, it is planning to replace small-car production in its USA plant network with higher-profit trucks and SUVs. And you know what’s going to happen?
Fields fired back on CNN Thursday afternoon, saying, “it’s really unfortunate when politics get in way of the facts”.
He said those vehicles would be replaced by “two very exciting new products”.
Fields told Harlow that Ford has created more than 28,000 jobs and has invested more than $12 billion in the United States – but that the company must remain competitive globally.
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Fields reiterated the company’s commitment to the USA, noting Ford has added more than 28,000 jobs there in the last five years, and invested more than $12 billion. “That way, we earn a good return, we can reinvest in our business and keep growing jobs”. Ford still produces plenty of its North American vehicles here, and in the most recent round of contract negotiations with the United Auto Workers union, the automaker committed to investing another $9 billion in USA facilities, and creating or retaining as many as 8,500 domestic jobs. “Ford’s investment in the US and commitment to American jobs has never been stronger”. He said Ford produces more vehicles and has more hourly workers in the USA than any other automaker.
