Ford ramps up for electric car production

Ford Motor Co. reopened its retooled Michigan Assembly Plant to build the new Ford Focus small car, billing it today as the world's first factory to produce three versions of electrified cars.

After a 13-month, $550 million conversion from making large SUVs, the suburban Detroit plant has started producing a conventional gasoline-powered new-generation Ford Focus that will go on sale in early 2011. Three electric versions of the Focus will follow: a battery electric model in late 2011 and hybrid and plug-in hybrids in late 2012.

“We've modernized just about every square foot of this facility to establish a new standard for a high-tech, green, flexible and efficient auto factory," Jim Tetreault, Ford vice president of North America manufacturing, said in a statement. He called the retooled plant “a symbol for the transformation of Ford."

Ford also announced it is teaming up with utility Detroit Edison and Xtreme Power to establish a 500-kilowatt solar-powered generation system and 10 electric vehicle-charging stations outside the plant. AutoWeek