Ford Motor Company plans to invest $135 million in two Michigan plants to assemble battery packs and transaxles for new hybrid vehicles in 2012, adding around 170 jobs.
The automaker further plans to hire more than 50 electric vehicle engineers in Dearborn and Livonia, Michigan, to develop battery packs and electric-drive transaxles for new lithium-ion battery powered hybrids planned for production in 2012.
Ford plans to launch an electric Transit Connect small van in North America this year and electric Ford Focus compact car in 2011. The Focus will be built at its Michigan assembly plant that had produced sport-utility vehicles.
