Ford to move production of Focus, C-Max cars from Michigan

Ford did not say where it would build the next-generation Focus and C-Max for the US market.

The Michigan Assembly Plant in suburban Detroit is one of nine plants worldwide that make the Focus.

Ford will stop building the C-Max and Focus at its Wayne, Michigan plant in 2018, Automotive News is reporting. The Focus-which is an updated product-has seen its sales off 3 percent year to date.

Ford, like crosstown rivals General Motors Co (GM.N) and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCHA.MI) (FCAU.N), got support from the USA government to build fuel-efficient vehicles in USA plants.

“With relatively low prices, people are not demanding small vehicles”, said Jay Baron, CEO of the Center for Auto Research.

Citing a note given to UAW workers and confirmation from Ford, the News reports that the production is expected to begin leaving the Wayne, Mich. site in 2018. The move to Mexico is likely a way to keep profits stable as more Americans fall for SUVs and crossovers instead of cars.

The decision prompted an immediate response from UAW Vice President Jimmy Settles, who issued a statement on the UAW Ford Department’s Twitter account.

Ford celebrated the reopening of the plant on March 17, 2011 during an event attended by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, US Senator Debbie Stabenow, D.

“In spite of this announcement, we want to ensure both the membership of Local 900 and the community that UAW members will continue to produce world-class quality vehicles with pride and passion now and beyond 2018, which remains a tradition of all United Auto Workers”.