Commerce Secretary Gary Locke Statement of Ford Motor Company’s Creation of 1,200 New Jobs

Ford Motor Company today announced that it will produce the more-fuel-efficient, next-generation Ford Explorer SUV at its Chicago Assembly Plant beginning in the fourth quarter of this year, creating approximately 1,200 new jobs to staff a second production shift and increase production at its Chicago Stamping Plant. Part of the new investment was enabled through a partnership with a Department of Energy advanced technology grant and loan program.

“President Obama is working every single day to put Americans back to work and strengthen our economy for the long-term,” U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said. “Ford’s new investment signals confidence in the U.S. economy and represents an important partnership between the public and private sectors—a partnership that will create jobs. The road to recovery will be long, but with progress like that announced today by Ford, we can be confident we’re on our way.”