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* Good news…
Ford’s Troy Design & Manufacturing operation isn’t as well known as the Dearborn, Mich.-based firm’s sprawling assembly plant on Torrence Avenue on the far Southeast Side of the city.
But the Troy facility, in part of a shared warehouse about a mile and a half east of the main assembly line, is where Ford autoworkers outfit police vehicles for use across the globe.
It’s at the Troy facility that the Interceptor sedans and sport-utility vehicles get the red-and-blue lights, hidden door locks, ballistic upgrades and other features that make them ready for police forces.
Yesterday, workers at the operation rolled the 100,000th vehicle they’ve customized in Chicago since the operation started up about three years ago through a bay door in the warehouse, pausing to commemorate the moment.
* And just the day before…
In order to support American-made products, the House endorsed legislation Wednesday to require the state to buy vehicles assembled in North America.
State Rep. Mike Smiddy, D-Hillsdale, who sponsored a similar proposal that failed to win support in the Senate last year, is the main proponent of the legislation.
“This is for the state of Illinois only. It does not include municipalities or any other governmental agencies,” Smiddy told his colleagues during a debate on the House floor.
The legislation requires the state to rent or buy vehicles assembled in North America, excluding Mexico. […]
Though the 70-42 vote was not a complete political split, many Republicans voted “no.”
The rollcall is here. Republicans voting for the bill included Brady, Bryant, Cabello, Moffitt and Sommer.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 9:58 am
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Ford has been a positive turnaround story, in many ways. They were ahead of their competitors and the financial crash in their restructuring.
I guess this piece means they grew jobs in Illinois working closely with their unions, and during the Quinn Administration.
Who knew? /snark
Comment by walker Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 10:08 am
I never understood why they called this a “North America” bill. It should have been called the U.S./Canada bill. Somebody needs to teach the rep geography and the meaning of “North America.”
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 10:10 am
The Michigan plant customizes the vehicles with lights, door locks, and other features. It does not assemble the vehicles which is done elsewhere.
Comment by 1776 Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 10:19 am
But, but, ….it’s a union plant…there must be something corrupt about it!!!
Comment by D.P.Gumby Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 10:29 am
How about that, a union plant that produces a useful product. Rauner wouldn’t have a clue how to run a show like that.
Good for them.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 10:37 am
I hope this bill becomes law. I do not understand why most Republicans voted against it. Do they believe, as Rauner has said, that “all jobs do not have to be in America?”
Comment by Fairlane Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 10:41 am
Unfortunately most of the new State Police cars are Chevy Caprice made by GM subsidiary Holden, which are Made in Australia. Not sure when and who made the decision to import a PPV from Australia when Illinois makes the best equipped PPV in the country right in Chicago.
Comment by Sheesh Hecuka Cupajava Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 10:41 am
…”many Republicans voted ‘no.’”
Why, exactly?
Comment by State employee Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 10:48 am
“When the 100,000th car rolled off the assembly line, Ford’s spokesperson proudly stated, ‘It’s got a cop motor, a 440-cubic inch plant. It’s got cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks. It’s a model before catalytic converters, so it’ll run good on regular gas.’”
Comment by Old Shepherd Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 11:03 am
I’m at a loss.. They make cop cars in Chciago, but some want Illinois to buy from Australia.
Blind ideology trumping common sense.
Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 11:06 am
Ford is doing just fine without special protectionist measures from the government. The fact that they didn’t take any bailout in 2008-9 is a huge selling point from a PR view. It’s also arguably the reason they’ve reorganized more successfully than those who took the money.
I think this bill is anti-business and anti-consumer. Who does it help?
Comment by Political Animal Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 11:23 am
Illinois workers, for now at least.
Comment by Fairlane Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 11:55 am
Ford took a calculated risk in 2006, mortgaging everything including the Blue Oval, and it paid off. Future business school case study.
About the cop cars: it would seem to be a no-brainer to buy the home-built product. However, there’s more to it. The Ford Interceptor (Taurus in civilian clothes) carries a price disadvantage as well as two tech bits that are complex and unproven in police service (the turbo “Ecoboost” engine and all-wheel drive) so many departments are staying with the workhorse Chevy. Notably though, the Tollway District of the ISP (that procures separately from the rest of the Department) just made a big buy of Interceptors.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 12:14 pm
CPD was supposed to buy a bunch of Interceptor sedans, but they never did. They bought a bunch of the Explorers, though.
Comment by Fairlane Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 12:27 pm
Since there are no more Crown Vic Interceptors being made, the only one that will do is the Explorer Interceptor. The Taurus isn’t big enough.
Neither is the new Caprice. It is similarly sized as the Taurus. It is, what was, the old Pontiac G8. GM was considering manufacturing it in the US until the new Impala was chosen to replace the old Impalas that were used on police duty.
GM spent too much in Holden to just scrap the G8/Caprice built in Australia. That is why you even see any of these cars doing police duty. It had nowhere to go in the GM line up. GM is using this old car as their police cruiser to help offset the costs incurred when a decade ago, it was decided that Holden was going to be Pontiac’s savior.
Chicago and Ford is where real American police cars are built.
As for Dodge, Fiat isn’t too thrilled with it. It looks like Fiat is going to stick with putting Chrysler and Jeep on their vehicles, sans Dodge.
I drive a Crown Vic Interceptor, it is a completely different car from the Crown Vic body you see dressed up in grandpa clothes as a Grand Marquis or a Town Car. Different everything except body. Bigger engine, awesome suspension, twin exhaust, amazingly comfortable leather bucket seats and like the old Maurader in a lot of ways.
Proud to have an American brand show imports how road warriors are supposed to be built!
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 1:51 pm
Yes, VM. I think Chicago shifted gears when they figured out the new Taurus Interceptor (Ford doesn’t like to call it that but I do so people will know what I am talking about) was found to be deficient in the roominess department. The Crown Vic’s were great and it is a shame they discontinued them. I heard it was after some Canadian union contracts expired, so they closed the plants.
Comment by Fairlane Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 2:06 pm
Also, getting rid of Mercury and emasculating Lincoln were two bad Ford ideas. Not sure what is going to happen with Dodge; I’ve also heard rumors that they may keep Dodge and cashier Chrysler. I’m guessing Dodge gets the guillotine, though.
Comment by Fairlane Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 2:09 pm