Ford Motor Co. Executive Chairman Bill Ford called on autoworkers to come together to end a monthlong strike that he says could cost the company the ability to invest in the future.

In a rare speech during contract talks in the company’s hometown of Dearborn, Michigan, Ford said high labor costs could limit spending to develop new vehicles and invest in factories. “It’s the absolute lifeblood of our company. And if we lose it, we will lose to the competition. America loses. Many jobs will be lost,” said the great grandson of company founder Henry Ford.

The company, he said, builds more vehicles in America and has more United Auto Workers employees than any company, which has increased its costs in a highly competitive industry.

Ford has 57,000 UAW workers compared with 46,000 at GM and 43,000 at Stellantis. “Many of our competitors moved jobs to Mexico as we added jobs here in the U.S.,” Ford said.

  • Montagge@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    When was the last time Ford made anything worth getting? I can’t think of anything since 2000.

    • stealthnerd@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Well for starters they make the most popular pickup in America (F-150).

      They also recently released the new Bronco and the Maverick. Both of these vehicles are incredibly popular to the point where they haven’t been able to keep up with orders. Both vehicles brought them into a new market that they weren’t competing in before with the Maverick being one of the only small, affordable pickups in America and the Bronco being a direct competitor to the Wrangler.

      Then there’s the F-150 lightning, they were the first of the big three automakers to introduce an electric pickup.