- Ford leads US auto exports and jobs while doubling down locally.
- More than 2 million vehicles built domestically, 311,000 exported.
- Company employs approximately 56,300 hourly pant workers in the US.
Ford’s feeling full of national pride again, and it’s not being subtle about it. The Blue Oval’s boss today rolled out another chest-thumping update on its US manufacturing muscle, reminding everyone that building cars at home is still very much its thing.
CEO Jim Farley says it assembled more than 2 million vehicles in the US last year, beating every other automaker in the process. Those rivals companies weren’t even close, Ford making nearly 350,000 more vehicles than second-placed Toyota.
More: Ford’s CEO Said His Own Cars Were Boring, But What He’s Teasing Next Isn’t
And if you’re wondering how committed Ford really is, here’s a number that sticks. About 83 percent of the vehicles it sells in America are also built there. That’s a ratio most competitors can only dream about.
Exports are another bragging point. Ford shipped roughly 311,000 US-built vehicles to more than 60 global markets, including heavy hitters like the F-150, Bronco and Mustang. So yes, America isn’t just buying Ford, it’s exporting a bit of it too.
Trickle-Down Autonomics
And let’s not forget about the workforce creating those vehicles. Ford says it employs around 56,300 hourly manufacturing workers in the US, more than any other automaker. That’s a lot of people building trucks, SUVs and paychecks, and the company is keen to highlight the ripple effect those jobs have on entire communities.
CEO Jim Farley, as you’d expect, given his seniority and industry experience, is big on the big picture. He points out that building cars locally isn’t just about cost, it’s about supporting schools, small businesses and local economies. The idea is simple. Build cars at home and you help keep the lights on far beyond the factory gates.
“People ask why we fight so hard to keep assembly here when our competitors profited by moving production offshore,” Farley said. “It’s because we understand the math of a community. When you assemble a vehicle in America, you are igniting an entire economic ecosystem.”
Investment In Affordable EVs
Ford also isn’t slowing down, Farley claims, even if the slowdown in EV takeup has forced it to change tack. Plans are in place to hire thousands more workers while gearing up for new gas, hybrid and electric models for Ford’s next chapter, which includes the launch of an affordable $30,000 pickup truck.
The message, even if it does whiff strongly of self-aggrandizement, is hard to ignore. Ford is a behemoth that does more for America and Americans than simply make its cars – and you better remember that if those temptingly cheap and hi-tech Chinese EVs about to arrive in Canada ever start trickling into the US. Chevy once claimed to be the heartbeat of America, but it looks like the US has had a transplant.
