BROOK PARK, Ohio -- The Ford Motor Company has announced a $145 million upgrade at its Cleveland Engine Plant, creating or retaining 150 new local jobs.
The jobs announcement is a key part of Ford's $9 billion commitment to the UAW in last year's collective bargaining agreement to create 8,500 hourly jobs across several states it has a presence in over a four-year span.
“This is very exciting news for the hardworking men and women of Cleveland Engine Plant and the Ohio community as a whole,” said Jimmy Settles, UAW vice president, National Ford Department.
“This investment is good news for Cleveland auto workers and northeast Ohio. Ohio workers are among the best in the world and this investment will help Ohio continue our proud auto manufacturing tradition,” Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) said.
“The men and women of UAW Local 1250 and Ford have forged an exemplary partnership that continues to bring good economic news to our region and good jobs that bolster northern Ohio’s automotive industry,” said Rep. Kaptur (OH-9). “This boost to Cleveland Engine further underscores its role as a cornerstone in Cleveland's comeback and of the continued resurgence of America’s auto industry.”
The Cleveland Engine Plant opened in 1951 and currently employs more than 1,500 people.
The announcement Friday, confirms weeks of rumors leading up to the Cleveland Auto Show regarding a major new investment in the engine plant.
The plant in Brook Park will produce Ford's new second-generation 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost engine, promising more power and greater fuel efficiency than its predecessor. When it debuted in 2009, the original 3.5L EcoBoost -- the first of its kind -- promised the same output as larger engines with better fuel economy.
The line of engines combine turbo charging and direct injection to yield the superior power and efficiency that have proven a popular addition to Ford's lineup, despite typically costing more than its traditional engine siblings on the dealer lot.
The second-generation 3.5L EcoBoost will debut in the 2017 F-150 Raptor, as an exclusive to the Raptor line. Ford promises the new engine will produce more power than the previous 6.2L V8 and greater efficiency, thanks in part to a new 10-speed transmission. Expect to see some variation of this engine make its way into other parts of the Ford family in the near future.
Along with the first-generation 3.5L EcoBoost in the F-150, the plant also builds the 2.0L EcoBoost for the Ford Edge, the 2.3L EcoBoost in the Ford Explorer, Mustang and Lincoln MKC, as well as the more traditional 3.7L V6 in the Mustang.
The Cleveland Engine Plant has produced more than 1 million EcoBoost engines since 2009.