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Ford Closing 2 UK Factories by End of 2013

The Dagenham factory will remain open. Only the stamping portion will be closed

FordFordUnited Kingdom, 1909 > present33 models
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has announced that it will be closing two more factories in addition to the Genk, Belgium, factory by the end of 2014. The Southampton and parts of the Dagenham factories will both be closed in 2013. In total, Ford will shed 5,700 employees by closing the three factories.

Southampton is responsible for building the TransitFord Transit Gen.8United Kingdom, 2011 > present359 versions
216 photos
, and Dagenham does stamping and tooling.

Ford predicts that closing the three factories will reduce its vehicle capacity by 355,000 units a year and save between $450 million to $500 million a year.

While Dagenham will stop stamping and tooling, it will continue to build engines, including a new 2.0-liter diesel in 2016.

These factory closures have no effect on Ford's One Ford plan to introduce 15 new global vehicles to Europe within the next five years.

Closing these factories will have a real effect on Ford. The new MondeoFord Mondeo 5United Kingdom, 2013 > present79 versions
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will not be introduced to Europe until late 2014 because it had been planned to be built at the Genk factory. Production of the Transit will move to Kocaeli, Turkey.

For the rest of the year, Ford has the refreshed FiestaFord Fiesta Gen.6United States of America, 2008 > 2017204 versions
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, Fiesta ST and KugaFord KugaUnited Kingdom, 2008 > 201226 versions
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for Europe. The Ecosport and EdgeFord Edge Gen.2United States of America, 2015 > present14 versions
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will go on sale in roughly the next 18 months. Over the next two years, Ford will introduce a new Transit, Transit Custom, Transit Connect, Transit Courier and TourneoFord Tourneo ConnectUnited Kingdom, 2002 > present49 versions
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.

"We recognize the impact our actions will have on many employees and their families in Europe, and we will work together with all stakeholders during this necessary transformation of our business," said Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally.