The company’s decision, put in writing, deals a blow to the UAW just days before contract talks are scheduled to begin.
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Ford also builds the Focus at two plants in China, Argentina, Germany, Russia, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Ford did not say where it would relocate production of the Focus and C-Max, amid media reports that Mexico was likely.
Moving the production of the compact cars could signal a coming slowdown in small vehicle sales, or a shift in strategy for the global automaker.
“We now are reviewing several possible options for the Focus and C-Max and will share the details once our studies are complete”, Ford spokeswoman Kristina Adamski wrote in an email.
The UAW in a bulletin to members this week said The union was told that Ford will be announcing it plans to move the production of the Focus “to a location outside of the USA”, by 2018, The Wall Street Journal reported.
“We are actively pursuing future vehicle alternatives to produce at Michigan Assembly and will discuss this issue with UAW leadership as part of the upcoming negotiations”, the company said in an emailed statement. Ford, Fiat Chrysler AutomobilesNV and General Motors are finding it hard to keep up with the cheaper Asian auto makers who had the added benefit of weaker currencies.
Focus sales have already fallen 16 percent last month in June and an overall 3.2 percent in the first half of 2015 whereas C-Max sales have dropped 17 percent in the current year. But he was confident that Ford will find a replacement product for the Wayne, Michigan plant which now produces gasoline, hybrid, and all-electric versions of Ford’s small cars.
Small vehicles like the Ford Focus deliver lower profits as compared to pickup trucks or SUV’s.
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