Ford invests £230 million in Halewood plant to build electric vehicle components
Video report by Granada Reports correspondent Tim Scott
Car giant Ford is to invest £230 million in its Halewood factory to make electric vehicle components, giving a huge boost to the motor industry.
The company said the plant on Merseyside will be “transformed” to build electric power units for future Ford all-electric passenger and commercial vehicles in Europe.
Halewood will be Ford’s first electric vehicle component in-house assembly site in Europe, with production beginning in 2024 – with the move safeguarding hundreds of jobs.
Andy Roche, plant manager at the factory says the move is a "testament to what the work force has done over the years"
He said: "Ford obviously had the confidence to put that money into Halewood because they see that we can carry out that challenge."
He added that without the investment, the plant had an uncertain future.
Unions have also welcomed the news.
It's thought that the investment will protect around 500 jobs at the Halewood plant and there is the prospect of between 400–700 jobs being created.
It comes after Ford took full ownership of a transmissions plant on the south Liverpool site in March.
The deal was touted as a show of confidence in UK car manufacturing, amid worries over the future of the nearby Vauxhall plant in Ellesmere Port.
Ford has committed to having all its passenger vehicles as all-electric and two-thirds of its commercial vehicle sales all-electric or plug-in hybrid by 2030.
Ford said the investment is subject to, and includes, Government support through its Automotive Transformation Fund.
Stuart Rowley, president of Ford of Europe, said: “This is an important step, marking Ford’s first in-house investment in all-electric vehicle component manufacturing in Europe.
“It strengthens further our ability to deliver 100% of Ford passenger vehicles in Europe being all-electric and two-thirds of our commercial vehicle sales being all-electric or plug-in hybrid by 2030.
“We also want to thank the UK Government for its support for this important investment at Halewood which reconfirms Ford’s continuing commitment to the UK and our position as a leading investor in this country’s auto industry and technological base.”
Ford said Halewood was chosen to supply the power units, which replace the engine and transmission in a conventional petrol or diesel engine vehicle, given its excellent record on quality, competitiveness and the strong skills base and commitment of the employees.
Halewood currently builds transmissions for a number of Ford passenger and commercial vehicles and exports all of its production.
Ford is one of the UK’s largest exporters, exporting engines and transmissions from its facilities to more than 15 countries on six continents – with overseas sales generating around £2.5 billion annually.