Ford announced on Thursday that it will soon start “the fastest and most aggressive manufacturing expansion the company has undergone in 50 years.” The automaker plans to create 5,000 U.S. jobs in 2014, and will open factories in Brazil and China. The jobs will be a mix of salaried and hourly positions, but the company says that most will be salaried. The expansion is a continuation of job creation over the past two years, during which Ford has added 14,000 jobs.
“The last time Ford was growing like this, Dwight D. Eisenhower was the U.S. president,” John Fleming, Ford’s executive vice president for manufacturing, said.
Ford will also welcome 16 new vehicle models to its line in North America. “2014 will be our biggest year for product launches in our 111-year history,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president of the Americas. “We keep investing in product.”
Ford did face some difficulties after it declined a federal bailout following the financial crisis of 2008, but its market share has been rising steadily, and its November sales rose 7% from last year.
