Ford recalls F-250 pickups that could roll while in park

Ford Motor Co is recalling about 52,600 F-250 pickup trucks sold in the United States and Canada because the vehicles could roll after the driver moves the automatic transmission lever into park position, the company said on Saturday.

The recall, the third announced by Ford this week, affects 2017 model year F-250 vehicles powered by 6.2-liter gasoline engines and built in its Louisville, Kentucky, truck plant, it said in a statement.

Ford, the second-largest US automaker, also said it was unaware of any injuries or accidents associated with the latest issue.

The company said on Wednesday it was recalling 211,000 vehicles in North America to replace potentially faulty side door latches.

Another recall involves 230,000 vehicles that present a fire risk in the engine compartment. Ford said it had reports of 29 fires related to that issue but no injuries.

The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker had previously recalled nearly 4 million vehicles for door latch issues in six separate announcements since 2014, including 2.4 million vehicles recalled in late 2016.

(Reporting by Frank McGurty; Editing by G Crosse and Bill Trott)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Chided by Trump, Ford scraps Mexico factory, adds Michigan jobs

FLAT ROCK, Michigan/WASHINGTON - Ford Motor Co. on Tuesday scrapped a planned Mexican car factory and added 700 jobs in Michigan following criticism by Donald Trump, as the US president-elect turned his attention toward rival General Motors Co. with the threat of a "big border tax" over compact cars made in Mexico.

Ford CEO Mark Fields called the move "a vote of confidence" in Trump, but primarily a response to a decline in North American demand for small cars like those that would have been made at the Mexican plant. He said Ford would have made the same decision even if Trump had not been elected.

Ford will cancel plans unveiled in April to spend $1.6 billion to build the new plant in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, a project Trump urged the automaker to abandon and called an "absolute disgrace" during the election campaign.

The No. 2 US automaker also said it would invest $700 million to expand the Flat Rock, Michigan factory and would make new electric, hybrid and autonomous vehicles there.

Trump's efforts to browbeat the US car industry show he may go further than other modern presidents to try to influence corporate decisions, especially those related to trade and investment.

In a Twitter post hours before Ford's announcement, Trump wrote, "General Motors is sending Mexican made model of Chevy Cruze to US car dealers-tax free across border. Make in USA or pay big border tax!" GM, the largest US automaker, said making some of the Cruze cars in the plant in Coahuila, Mexico was part of its strategy to serve global customers, not sell those vehicles in the United States.

Trump's GM tweet was his latest broadside aimed at an American company over jobs, imports and costs even before he takes office on Jan. 20.

Mexico's government said it regrets Ford's decision and has ensured that the company will reimburse San Luis Potosi state for any costs associated with the investment.

"Obviously, this isn't a good decision for us," said Mexico's economy minister, Ildefonso Guajardo.

Ford said it still will shift production from Michigan of its Focus compact car to an existing plant in Hermosillo, Mexico. Fields said he expects Michigan to give incentives for Ford's investment in Flat Rock.

Ford spokeswoman Jennifer Flake said the automaker will save $500 million by not opening the new plant in the near term, but will have some undisclosed costs to retool the other Mexican plant to build the Focus.

Ford shares closed up about 3.8 percent. GM shares rose about 0.9 percent.

TRUMP NOTIFIED

Top Ford executives personally notified Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence of their decision. Fields praised tax and regulatory proposals advocated by Trump and his fellow Republicans who control Congress.

"Our view is that we see a more positive US manufacturing business environment under President-elect Trump and the pro-growth policies and proposals that he's talking about, so this is a vote of confidence for President-elect Trump and some of the policies that they may be pursuing," Fields said.

Union workers gathered at the Flat Rock factory cheered Fields' announcement. Hiring of the 700 new workers there will probably start in 2018 with the majority of it in 2020, Fields said.

Trump said during the presidential campaign that if elected, he would not allow Ford to open the new plant in Mexico and would slap hefty tariffs on imported Ford vehicles. Trump also accused Mexico of sending criminals and rapists into the United States and vowed to build a border wall to combat illegal immigration.

Since winning the Nov. 8 election, Trump has targeted a wide range of American companies also including United Technologies Inc, Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp. Trump also has touted decisions by companies to keep some production in the United States, including United's Carrier unit in Indiana.

Trump previously vowed to hit companies that shift production from America to other countries with a 35 percent tax on their exports into the United States. He also has denounced the North American Free Trade Agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Fields said there were no negotiations between Ford and the incoming president over canceling the Mexico plant or investing in Michigan.

Ford will build a battery electric SUV with a 300-mile (482-km) driving range at the Michigan plant by 2020, and will launch production there by 2021 of a fully autonomous vehicle without a steering wheel or a brake pedal for use in ride services fleets. Ford also plans new hybrid versions of its F-150 pickup truck, Mustang and police vehicles by 2020.

GM said it sold about 190,000 Cruze cars in the United States in 2016. All of the sedan versions sold in the United States, about 185,500, were built at its Lordstown, Ohio plant. About 4,500 hatchback Cruze versions were assembled in Mexico and sold in the United States.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Nissan, Ford recall hundreds of thousands of cars

WASHINGTON - Nissan and Ford issued recalls of hundreds of thousands of cars Wednesday to address problem parts that could lead to injuries.

Nissan said it was calling in around 768,000 Pathfinders, Infiniti JX35s, QX60s and Rogues around the world to repair two problems.

On Pathfinders, Infiniti JX35s and QX60s of certain model years, the hood latch might not lock, potentially allowing it to spring open while the vehicle is moving.

For 2007 to 2014 Rogues, water, snow and salt leaking into the car could cause a short at a certain point of the wiring and potentially a fire, Nissan said.

Ford recalled nearly 205,000 Ford Taurus, Lincoln MKS and Ford Police Interceptor sedans from the 2010 to 2013 model years, saying the doors could open in a crash due to a problem with the handles.

In addition, Ford is recalling 16,000 2014 Transit Connect vans for incorrectly tightened seat-belt fasteners. The company said it knew of no injuries related to either problem.

source:  www.abs-cbnnews.com

Ford Philippines to close Sta. Rosa factory in December

Ford Philippines on Wednesday said it will discontinue manufacturing operations in its Santa Rosa, Laguna, factory starting next year, citing supply and operational efficiencies as main reasons.

"Effective December this year, we would cease our manufacturing operations at our Santa Rosa, Laguna, plant after we rolled out the last assembly of Ford Escape," Peter Fleet, Ford Asean president, told reporters in a press briefing in Makati City.



"The lack of supply base and economies of scale are the major issues in coming up with this very difficult decision," said Fleet.

The car maker is the only car exporter in the Philippines.

The company explored possibilities of bringing a number of different products that might click with the Philippine market, but the two major reasons cited convinced them to stop operations, said Fleet.

"This is a very difficult decision,” said Randy Krieger, Ford Philippines president.

“The company studied every possible scenario and opportunity but we could not make a strong enough business case for future manufacturing," Krieger noted.

"We are extremely proud of the world-class vehicles assembled in our Santa. Rosa, Laguna, plant and our exceptional team, and we will provide them with all the support they need to help them through this transition," Krieger added.

Around 250 employees will be affected by the decision.

Krieger said employees who would be displaced may work at any Ford factory overseas.

"But this depends on their choices, if they want to go with us," Fleet said.

However, the dealerships would continue operating and selling imported cars.

The sales network of Ford in the country would be maintained and even expanded. "From 20 dealerships, we will make it 40 by 2015," said Fleet.

He clarified that the decision was based on purely business and economic reasons. "I just want to point out that this business decision has nothing to do with any government policy or lack of government support for us," Fleet said.

Ford remains committed to growing its business and serving customers through its national sales company, the Ford Group Philippines, Fleet claimed.

Backing up his claim, Fleet said the commitment would reflect on the eight all-new One Ford vehicles to be introduced by 2015 the expansion of dealerships nationwide.

Among the new models to be introduced starting this year are Ford Ranger, Focus, and Mustang this year.

With this stoppage in operations by December, there will be no participant in the country's car export program. Ford is currently the lone participant to the program.

Once the Santa Rosa plant is shuttered, Ford’s national sales headquarters in may also be relocated. No specific place has yet been decided on by the company.

The Santa Rosa factory, which sits on a 21.4-hectare lot, has a yearly capacity output of 36,000 units.

Since 2002, Ford has been the first and only volume exporter of completely built units.

With cumulative exports of over 80,000 units valued at $1 billion, the shipments were mainly for Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. —VS, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Ford recalls 539,000 minivans, SUVs worldwide

Ford Motor Co, the No. 2 U.S. automaker, recalled about 539,000 vehicles worldwide in two separate actions to repair flaws that may lead to fires in some SUVs and the loss of power in some Mercury and Ford minivans.

Ford will recall 286,000 Ford Escape SUVs made for the 2001 and 2002 model years. It will also recall nearly 253,000 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans for 2004 and 2005 model years, Ford spokesman Dan Pierce said on Wednesday.

Most of the affected vehicles are in the United States.

The Escape recall follows a similar action in 2007 to fix a flaw in the antilock brake system, according to a Ford filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

But some SUVs may not have been completely inspected or received a proper fix, Ford said in Wednesday's filing.

Some of those SUVs were outfitted with a faulty brake master cylinder reservoir cap that could leak brake fluid. That could cause an electrical short in the antilock brake system leading to smoking or fire.

"There are reports of property damage as a result of fire beyond vehicle-only damage," Ford said in its report. There have been no reports of injuries due to the problem.

The defective part was built from October 1999 to July 2002 in a factory that is now closed. In some cases, parts shortages could delay the necessary repair.

"While the potential for fire is low, it is recommended that a customer park their vehicle outdoors away from structures until this recall repair is performed," Pierce told Reuters in an email.

In a separate recall, Ford told U.S. safety regulators that it would recall the Ford and Mercury minivans due to a defective torque converter. Ford discontinued the Mercury brand in 2010.

If the converter malfunctions, the vehicle could lose "motive" power, or the ability to move forward and reverse, without warning.

When a vehicle loses motive power, it can still be steered and stopped because the engine continues to run, Ford said. But the condition increases the risk of a crash.

Ford shares closed 2.3 percent higher at $12.07 on the New York Stock Exchange.

source: abs-cbnnews.com