Ford plans to build Ranger at Michigan Assembly

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Detroit News

Michael Martinez, The Detroit News 8:05 a.m. EDT August 26, 2015
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Ford Motor Co. wants to resurrect its once-popular Ranger truck in North America and build the midsize pickup at the Michigan Assembly Plant, according to sources with knowledge of Ford’s plans.

The Dearborn automaker has entered contract negotiations with the United Auto Workers with plans to bring the Ranger to the plant in Wayne in 2018, said the sources, who couldn’t speak publicly because of the sensitive nature of the talks. They said the final decision is up for discussion in the talks now underway, and must be agreed to with the union and then Ford’s board of directors.

The Ranger — which would replace the Focus and C-Max after production of those cars likely heads to Mexico — represents the kind of potentially high-profit, high-volume vehicle the union desires and likely would demand before members would ratify any contract proposal. The two sides must agree that the Ranger would be a good fit for the plant and its nearly 4,500 workers. For Ford, the pickup would mark the return to a small — but growing — midsize truck segment that would help it meet stricter fleet-wide fuel economy standards demanded by the federal government.
....

It’s unclear if the Ranger will be the only product brought into the 5 million-square-foot Wayne plant. Five vehicles currently are built there — the Ford Focus, Focus Electric, Focus ST, C-Max Hybrid and C-Max Energi — and workers made about 265,000 vehicles last year. ... Ford in July said it was pulling production of all its vehicles out of Michigan Assembly in 2018, but both the union and automaker have said repeatedly that they expect to avoid shuttering the plant and hope to introduce a new product there.

Read more: http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/ford/2015/08/25/ford-ranger/32373741/

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Hat tip, the Newseum, which has an array of front pages on display facing Pennsylvania Avenue in DC. I walk past it when I take the bus to work.

[Cryptoad]

1. Thank you Ford,,,,,,,

never understood why you quit making a truck a popular as the Ranger. Ive had three and need a forth.

[appal_jack]

2. Hope they revive it right!

My 1987 Ford Ranger 4wd with their old 2.9 liter V6 was a great little truck. I was proud to have the UAW sticker on the window, and ran it to more than 230,000 miles before an accident totaled it.

Hope Ford sticks to what made the Ranger great: small, rugged, durable, and capable. I'm more of a full size truck guy these days with what I haul & do (an old F250 is my current rig), but the compact truck serves an important niche.

-app

[Sherman A1]

3. Excellent!

[Brickbat]

4. Too bad they can't bring it back to St. Paul, where they were originally made. All torn down now.

[Jokerman]

5. I love my Ranger!

2011, 4 cylinder, standard transmission. Decent gas mileage for a truck.

I really don't use it to haul stuff very often and but it is great to have it when I need it.

[mike dub]

6. Great news

and on a personal note, I hope Ford brings the euro Ford Ranger turbo diesel motor over to the States as well. Didn't specifically see that in the article, but read elsewhere that they might. Chevy, Nissan and Toyota are already looking to add diesels to their mid sizers.
My truck broke last year and I've been holding out to get a small TD in a mid sized pickup.

[90-percent]

7. Bought my second Ranger January 2012

I went to the local supermarket recently, as always, and somebody approached me in the parking lot interested in buying my Ranger from me! I was amazed people can be so passionate about them.

Got a year end 2011 extended cab 4wd, as there would be no 2012 model.

-90% Jimmy

[sufrommich]

8. I loved my Ranger,I drove it for 10 years,gave it to my son

who drove it while in college then donated it to Mother Waddles in Detroit. It's probably still knocking around somewhere out there.Never had any trouble with it other than routine maintenance.

[safeinOhio]

9. Great news for Western Wayne Co.

and my brothers and sisters at local 900.

[LovingA2andMI]

10. WOO-HOO

More Jobs for Michigan!!!!

[Tikki]

11. Best idea ever....

We have two in our drive way and young men, at least a couple times a year, will knock on our door or leave
a note on the windshield with their name and number asking us to call them first when we plan to sell our Rangers.

One of the Rangers is 15 years old and, though, not driven as much still runs like a charm.
YAY, to FORD and to be built State side, brilliant.

Tikki