Ford Motor Co. today kicked off production of the new, redesigned F-150 at the Ford Rouge Center in Dearborn. The first models are expected to go on sale in the U.S. next month.
“The all-new F-150 is a showcase of innovation and class-leading capability for truck customers,” said Mark Fields, president and CEO of the automaker. “It underscores the product excellence and innovation we are delivering in every part of our business as we accelerate our pace of progress toward profitable growth.”
The truck — featuring a high-strength steel frame and a military-grade, aluminum-alloy body — can tow up to 1,100 more pounds and haul up to 530 more pounds than the previous model. Its fuel economy is projected to be five to 20 percent higher than the current lineup.
“The all-new F-150 continues to advance my great-grandfather’s vision of building vehicles we can be proud of and our customers can depend on,” says Bill Ford, Ford’s executive chairman.
The 2015 model has received considerable interest since it was first revealed at the 2014 North American International Auto Show — more than 225,000 truck enthusiasts have submitted their contact information for vehicle updates, and more than 250,000 customers have built and priced their own version of the truck online, the automaker reports.
To support the launch of the new vehicle, Ford added 850 new workers across its Dearborn Truck, Diversified, and Stamping facilities. The new workers join more than 4,000 existing team members working on the F-150.
In addition to the Dearborn Truck Plant, the new F-150 will be manufactured at Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Mo., starting next year. Combined, the two plants will have the capacity to produce more than 700,000 trucks per year for availability in 90 markets globally.
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