Ford Motor is retooling it's Louisville Assembly Plant, and hiring 1,800 workers to get the job done. This will bring back laid off workers and call for transfers. The company will invest $600 million to reprogram the site for greater flexibility, churning out 6 different vehicles from the same body shop, including the next generation Escape compact SUV due next year. The company claims the renovated plant will be the most flexible high-volume vehicle-manufacturing factory in the world. Flexibility is a realm that the Japanese have mastered over the U.S. historically.
Ford shares are up half a percent Thursday, to $16.77.