As First 2016 Truck Rolls Off New Assembly Line, Brown Applauds Ford's $168 Million Investment at Avon Lake Plant

Press Release

Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) applauded the first 2016 F-650/F-750 off the line at Avon Lake Assembly Plant. In March 2015, Ford announced its plan to shift production of its F-650 and F-750 trucks from Mexico to Avon Lake. Production of the large commercial truck brought a $168 million investment in the region. Today, Ford Motor Company's President of the Americas Joe Hinrich drove the first truck off the lot.

"Ohioans take great pride in the fact that we can drive cars made in Ohio with Ohio-made parts. Ford's continued investment in our state -- including this line of production in Avon Lake -- speaks to the strength of Ohio's manufacturing workers," said Brown. "As the first super-duty truck rolls off the lot, we celebrate northeast Ohio's workforce and commit ourselves to boosting our manufacturing sector so more generations of Ohioans can produce the next generation of Ford trucks."

In March, Brown celebrated Ford's new line of production at its Cleveland Engine Plant. Production of its four-cylinder EcoBoost Engines to the Cleveland Engine Plant brought 450 jobs over to Cleveland from Valencia, Spain.

According to a 2010 study by the Center for Automotive Research, more than 848,000 Ohio jobs depend on the auto industry; this figure includes 120,285 direct employment (people employed directly by auto industry: 39,685 by automakers and 80,600 by parts suppliers); 276,330 indirect employment (jobs indirectly employed by automakers or parts suppliers: 167,891 by automakers and 108,439 by parts suppliers); and 395,981 spin-off employment (expenditure-induced employment resulting from spending by direct and intermediate employees; 221,018 by automakers and 174,963 by suppliers). A 2011 study by the Center for Automotive Research found that 164,654 jobs in 2009 would have been lost in Ohio if the auto industry had not been rescued.

Brown has long been a champion of American manufacturing and Ohio's auto industry. In November 2008, he introduced the Auto Industry Emergency Bridge Loan Act with a bipartisan group of colleagues. In December 2008, Brown fought to ensure that funds from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) were allocated to aid the Big 3 and American auto suppliers. At the start of 2009, Brown applauded President Obama's decision to advance restructuring plans to ensure the viability of the American auto industry.

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