Ford to shift focus of its Focus cars to China

DETROIT — FordMotor Co. will export vehicles from China to theU.S. for the first time starting in 2019.

Ford said this week it plans to move production of its Ford Focus car from the U.S. to China, where it already makes the Focus for Chinese buyers. Ford will continue to make the Focus in Europe, and will also export some variants of the Focus from Europe to the United States.

Sales of small cars have dropped sharply in the U.S. and companies are seeking to cut costs making them. Ford’s president of global operations JoeHinrichs said the move to China will save the company $1 billion, including $500 million for canceling plans to build the Focus inMexico.

Wary of the response from President Donald Trump, who has criticized Ford for making vehicles outside the U.S., Ford said the move won’t cost U.S. jobs. The suburban Detroit plant that makes the Focus will be converted late next year to produce the Ford Ranger pickup and Ford Bronco SUV.

Ford also said it plans to invest $900 million in its Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville to make the new, aluminum-sided Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs. Those vehicles will go on sale this fall and will be exported to more than 55 markets globally, the company said. The investment will secure 1,000 jobs at theKentucky plant.

But the White House response was muted. Asked Tuesday whether Trump plans to get tougher on China or on automakers who leave the U.S., White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the president wants to lower business taxes and reform the tax code so businesses willwant to “come back to the United States, grow in the United States, manufacture more in theUnited States.”

Hinrichs said Ford’s research shows that customers — who are used to phones and other gadgets from China — care more about product quality than where their vehicles are made.

Plans for production of