Following a six-week-long targeted strike against the Detroit Big Three automakers, Ford reached a tentative agreement with the United Auto Workers (UAW) on a new contract in late October. That deal was later officially ratified by UAW members, paving the way for a new contract that will last until April 2028. This new deal includes an $8 billion dollar investment from Ford in its products and plants, which it will pay for by reducing inefficiencies and has been quite revealing in terms of what the future holds, as Ford Authority has covered in detail over the past few weeks, and it also means that production of two Ford hybrid transmissions will continue for the length of the contract as well.
As noted in this UAW document outlining Ford’s future production/plant roadmap, production of the HF45 and HF55 gearboxes will continue at the Van Dyke Electric Powertrain Center – formerly known as the Van Dyke Transmission plant – through at least April 2028 (the expiration date of this new contract) following a $230 million dollar investment into that facility. These gearboxes are currently utilized in the Ford Maverick Hybrid, as well as hybrid versions of the Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair. These transmissions join the 8-speed and 10-speed automatics, which will also remain in production for the foreseeable future.
Ultimately, it comes as no surprise that Ford will continue to produce these hybrid transmissions, given its commitment to those types of electrified vehicles, which continue to rise up the sales charts. Ford CEO Jim Farley previously stated that the company will continue to make and sell hybrids for the foreseeable future, even if that doesn’t necessarily include plug-in hybrids. Additionally, Kumar Galhotra, president of Ford Blue, added that he expects hybrid sales to remain strong well into the next decade, too.
We’ll have more on the future of Ford’s products and plants soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for ongoing Ford news coverage.
Comments
The HF45 and HF55 are descendents of the flawless Ford designed HF35 in every Fusion Hybrid and Energi, and in everyLincoln MKZ Hybrid and Energi. My own 2014 Fusion Hybrid is one of those!
How is it that hybrids will be in Ford’s future when they are dropping the Edge and Corsair? Oh and also the Explorer hybrid also.
Mike, you are well misinformed. Ford will produce more hybrids. Their hybrid transmissions are troublefree.