Ford statement in full (From Daily Echo)

Ford statement in full

1:51pm Monday 15th September 2008 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

Ford's Southampton plant operates within a competitive European commercial vehicle market. As usual at this stage in a vehicle's lifecycle, Ford has been discussing with employee representatives and union officials plans for future model investment at the plant. It is intended that the current Transit model will be produced at Southampton until 2011.

At their latest meeting employee representatives were told of the most viable proposal for the next Ford Transit at Southampton plant. This plan, which meets the necessary financial targets for this vehicle programme, is now being discussed.

Ford Southampton assembles the Transit which enjoyed increased sales in Britain last year compared with 2006. Key for the successor model is that all derivatives are manufactured on a profitable basis.

Ford has outlined a multi-million pound investment plan for Southampton as primary source for chassis cab variants of the next model Transit. Chassis cab vehicles have a front cab with ladder-frame chassis behind as a base for a standard box van, dropside or tipper bodies.

Forecast volume of Ford Transit chassis cabs from Southampton plant from mid 2011 would be around 35,000 vehicles a year.

This financially viable Ford Transit investment plan and the associated impact on employment levels will continue to be reviewed. The European new Transit programme will be approved at board level in the US in 2009.

The market for cars and commercial vehicles is intense and it is vital that Ford vehicles and locations remain cost competitive.

Regards, Brian Bennett Manager, Corporate Affairs,