Wixom Assembly Plant
Encyclopedia
The Ford Wixom Assembly Plant, now known as the Ford Renewable Energy Park, is a former Ford Motor Company
automobile
assembly plant in Wixom, Michigan
, United States
.
which rolled off the line at 12:55pm on May 31, 2007.
During its long history, the plant was mainly used for the manufacture of Lincolns
and the Ford Thunderbird
. The Lincoln Town Car and the Ford GT
were also produced there. Production of the Lincoln LS
ended in early April 2006 and production of the Ford GT
stopped on September 21, leaving the Town Car as the plant's final product.
Wixom was the most profitable plant in the industry during the 1980s when Cadillac
downsized its lineup and lost ground to Lincoln. Due to Lincoln's falling sales, Ford announced on January 23, 2006 that the Wixom plant would be idled in 2007 as part of The Way Forward
. Some analyists argued that the plant might not be closed. A report in The Oakland Press
stated, "The fate of the Wixom plant, however, will depend on the shape of Ford's future product plan, which seems to be currently in flux." Michigan governor, Jennifer Granholm
, reportedly offered $115 million in tax cuts to keep the plant open. The plant was nonetheless idled in 2007, and by mid-June 2008, while Ford was able to find buyers for other idled plants, Wixom remained unsold.
Products:
As of August, 2010 all parties, Xtreme Power, Clairvoyant Energy, Ford and the State of Michigan, are still on board with the Energy Park plan. The energy companies are waiting for the federal government to approve interim loan guarantees to begin construction. Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm
said, "There's been a great effort to partner with the federal government on investment, but that application process is often very cumbersome," and added "So streamlining that, I think, has got to be the next step for the federal government in continuous improvement." Currently, Ford is working to dismantle the inside of the former automobile factory in preparation for the energy park.
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
assembly plant in Wixom, Michigan
Wixom, Michigan
Wixom is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 13,498 at the 2010 census. The city was home to the former Wixom Assembly Plant, which produced the Lincoln LS, the Ford Thunderbird, the Ford GT, and the Lincoln Town Car...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Ford years
The Wixom assembly plant was one of Ford's largest and oldest manufacturing sites. It opened April 15, 1957, and was ultimately expanded to encompass 4.7 million square feet. Over the plant's 50 years of operation it produced 6,648,806 automobiles. The last car produced was a white chocolate Lincoln Town CarLincoln Town Car
The Lincoln Town Car is a full-size luxury sedan that was sold by the upscale Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company; it was produced from 1981 to the 2011 model years...
which rolled off the line at 12:55pm on May 31, 2007.
During its long history, the plant was mainly used for the manufacture of Lincolns
Lincoln (automobile)
Lincoln is an American luxury vehicle brand of the Ford Motor Company. Lincoln vehicles are sold mostly in North America.-History:The company was founded in August 1915 by Henry M. Leland, one of the founders of Cadillac . During World War I, he left Cadillac which was sold to General Motors...
and the Ford Thunderbird
Ford Thunderbird
The Thunderbird , is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States over eleven model generations from 1955 through 2005...
. The Lincoln Town Car and the Ford GT
Ford GT
The Ford GT is a mid-engine two-seater sports car. Ford Motor Company produced the Ford GT for the 2005 to 2006 model years. The designers drew inspiration from Ford's GT40 race cars of the 1960s.- Development :...
were also produced there. Production of the Lincoln LS
Lincoln LS
The Lincoln LS is a mid-size, rear wheel drive sedan from Lincoln. For its production run from 1999 until 2006, it was based on the Ford DEW98 platform, which was shared with the Jaguar S-Type and Ford Thunderbird...
ended in early April 2006 and production of the Ford GT
Ford GT
The Ford GT is a mid-engine two-seater sports car. Ford Motor Company produced the Ford GT for the 2005 to 2006 model years. The designers drew inspiration from Ford's GT40 race cars of the 1960s.- Development :...
stopped on September 21, leaving the Town Car as the plant's final product.
Wixom was the most profitable plant in the industry during the 1980s when Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
downsized its lineup and lost ground to Lincoln. Due to Lincoln's falling sales, Ford announced on January 23, 2006 that the Wixom plant would be idled in 2007 as part of The Way Forward
The Way Forward
Ford Motor Company's restructuring plan, made public in 2006, is known as The Way Forward.Ford is attempting to reduce fixed capital costs while maintaining a special focus on cars and car-based crossover vehicles. Over time, it hopes to make more of its product line profitable instead of relying...
. Some analyists argued that the plant might not be closed. A report in The Oakland Press
The Oakland Press
The Oakland Press is a daily newspaper published in Oakland County, Michigan. Owned by Journal Register Company, The Oakland Press was originally named The Pontiac Press until 1972.-External links:* *...
stated, "The fate of the Wixom plant, however, will depend on the shape of Ford's future product plan, which seems to be currently in flux." Michigan governor, Jennifer Granholm
Jennifer Granholm
Jennifer Mulhern Granholm is a Canadian-born American politician, educator, and author who served as Attorney General and 47th Governor of the U.S. state of Michigan. A member of the Democratic Party, Granholm became Michigan's first female governor on January 1, 2003, when she succeeded Governor...
, reportedly offered $115 million in tax cuts to keep the plant open. The plant was nonetheless idled in 2007, and by mid-June 2008, while Ford was able to find buyers for other idled plants, Wixom remained unsold.
Products:
- 1958–2002 Lincoln ContinentalLincoln ContinentalThe Lincoln Continental is an automobile which was produced by the Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company from 1939 to 1948 and again from 1956 to 2002...
- 1958–2005 Ford ThunderbirdFord ThunderbirdThe Thunderbird , is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States over eleven model generations from 1955 through 2005...
- 1980–1983 Lincoln Mark VI
- 1981–2007 Lincoln Town CarLincoln Town CarThe Lincoln Town Car is a full-size luxury sedan that was sold by the upscale Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company; it was produced from 1981 to the 2011 model years...
- 1984–1992 Lincoln Mark VII
- 1993–1998 Lincoln Mark VIIILincoln Mark VIIIThe Lincoln Mark VIII is a large, rear-wheel drive grand touring luxury coupe built from 1993 to 1998. It was the successor of the Mark VII. The Mark VIII was built at Ford's Wixom, Michigan assembly plant and was based on the FN10 platform, a relative of the MN12 platform which underpinned the...
- 2000–2006 Lincoln LSLincoln LSThe Lincoln LS is a mid-size, rear wheel drive sedan from Lincoln. For its production run from 1999 until 2006, it was based on the Ford DEW98 platform, which was shared with the Jaguar S-Type and Ford Thunderbird...
- 2005–2006 Ford GTFord GTThe Ford GT is a mid-engine two-seater sports car. Ford Motor Company produced the Ford GT for the 2005 to 2006 model years. The designers drew inspiration from Ford's GT40 race cars of the 1960s.- Development :...
Energy Park
It was announced in August 2009 that the former Ford Wixom plant would be converted to a green energy production plant with an initial investment of $725 million. The potential investment is expected to exceed $1 billion if the project develops. Two separate companies, Xtreme Power and Clairvoyant Energy will redevelop the factory and hire a combined 4,000-plus employees. The two companies plan on occupying half of the factory, with the goal that the other half will be occupied by other alternative energy companies. When the project is completed it will be the largest renewable energy park in the United States.As of August, 2010 all parties, Xtreme Power, Clairvoyant Energy, Ford and the State of Michigan, are still on board with the Energy Park plan. The energy companies are waiting for the federal government to approve interim loan guarantees to begin construction. Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm
Jennifer Granholm
Jennifer Mulhern Granholm is a Canadian-born American politician, educator, and author who served as Attorney General and 47th Governor of the U.S. state of Michigan. A member of the Democratic Party, Granholm became Michigan's first female governor on January 1, 2003, when she succeeded Governor...
said, "There's been a great effort to partner with the federal government on investment, but that application process is often very cumbersome," and added "So streamlining that, I think, has got to be the next step for the federal government in continuous improvement." Currently, Ford is working to dismantle the inside of the former automobile factory in preparation for the energy park.