Ford’s Electric Van Providing 100 New Jobs in Michigan

Ford Motor Co.

The Detroit Free Press is reporting Ford’s new all-electric Fort Transit Connect vans will provide up to 100 additional jobs at three Michigan companies.

Three Ford suppliers are slated to add jobs to help with production of the electric vans. They are Azure Dynamics in Oak Park, which makes the vehicle’s electric powertrain; Johnson Controls-Saft in Holland, which assembles the battery; and AM General, which will attach Azure’s powertrain to the vans bodies in Livonia.

“We’ve been working to grow clean energy manufacturing in Michigan to diversify the state’s economy and create jobs,” Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm said in a statement. “The Transit Connect Electric is a prime example of the public and private sectors collaborating to invest in clean energy technologies that lead to new jobs for Michigan workers.”

According to reports, the Ford Transit Connect Electric has a top speed of 75 mph and has a range of up to 80 miles on a single charge. The vehicle was developed with the help of grants from the Department of Energy and the Michigan Economic Development Council.