Automotive News Canada - October 2022 - 12

12
* OCTOBER 2022
Ford Super Duty revs up Windsor engine plant
New V-8 is a sign of
stability as 'an electric
[heavy-duty] truck is not
the right solution'
By GRACE MACALUSO
MANAGING EDITOR
A THIRD SHIFT WILL BE ADDED AT
Ford's Windsor Annex Engine Plant to
produce the new 6.8-litre gasoline V-8
engine for the updated F-Series Super
Duty pickup.
The additional line will create 150 jobs,
company spokeswoman Lauren More said
on Oct. 6.
Little: " So
much is
tied to that
truck plant in
Kentucky. "
SUPPLIED
PHOTO
The factory will
supply the automaker's
assembly plant in
Louisville, Ky., said Tim
Little, vice-president of
Unifor Local 200, which
represents more than
1,600 hourly employees
at two engine plants
in the southwestern
Ontario city.
Current production of
the 6.2-litre gasoline V-8
will cease by the end of
the year, with assembly
of the 6.8 beginning in
January, said Little.
" So much is tied to
that truck plant in Kentucky, " he said.
" I think it's an indication of how popular
that product is, how important
continental integration of the auto sector
is, " said Flavio Volpe, president of
the Automotive Parts Manufacturers'
Association (APMA). " And it's a reminder
for all observers - casual or otherwise
- that internal-combustion-engine goods
New features for the updated Ford
Super Duty include a 5G modem,
over-the-air updates, a power generator
and a backup camera that shows
a proper view when the tailgate is
lowered. PHOTO: LINKEDIN
still drive the bottom lines for all the
major automakers. "
BOON FOR SUPPLIERS
The third shift is good news for " suppliers
who are enjoying that extra volume, "
Volpe said. " A third shift means [Ford
is] absolutely confident [it] can sell every
truck we make, and we can't make them
fast enough. That permanent commitment
to extra volume ensures supplier viability. "
Windsor Annex also builds the 7.3-litre
gasoline V-8 for the Super Duty pickups
and will be the sole source of the 6.8-litre
engine, said Little.
The awarding of the new engine program
stemmed from the last round of
Detroit Three bargaining, he said. The
plant's machining departments were the
focus of upgrades, with most of the retooling
completed.
Windsor is home to a second Ford engine
plant, which assembles the 5.0-litre gasoline
Coyote V-8 for the F-150 and the Mustang.
Word of the third shift at Annex comes
as Ford boosts investment in its highly
Made in Canada:
Ford's new 6.8-litre
gasoline V-8 shows a long-term
commitment to internal combustion
for the company's heavy-duty pickups.
PHOTO: FORD
profitable F-Series program to meet consumer
demand and help fund its electrification
strategy. In September, the automaker
announced plans to spend US $700 million
and add 500 jobs at its Kentucky plant
for production of its 2023 model-year Super
Duty products.
Joining the carryover 6.7-litre Power
Stroke turbo-diesel and the 7.3-litre gasoline
V-8 is a new optional high-output 6.7-litre
Power Stroke diesel. The diesel engines are
built in Mexico.
HEAVY-DUTY INVESTMENT
Heavy-duty pickups are among the few
vehicle types still receiving large investments
for engine development. Although
the segment isn't huge, the money at stake
is. Ford says its Super Duty revenue alone
is greater than the revenue of Southwest
Airlines, Marriott International or many
other Fortune 500 companies.
The 2023 Super Duty, expected to go on
sale early next year, will get an embedded
5G modem with over-the-air update compatibility
and an onboard power generator.
Ford also is adding driver-assist technology
for towing and hauling as well as a new
backup camera that works when the tailgate
is lowered.
The big trucks are high-margin profit
machines that will be key to funding automakers'
electric ambitions,
but executives say
they'll likely be among
the last vehicles in the
industry to get battery
power, if they ever do.
" If you're pulling 10,000
pounds, an electric truck
is not the right solution.
And 95 per cent of
our customers tow more
than 10,000 pounds, "
Ford Motor Co. CEO Jim
Farley said at the launch
of the updated Super
Duty.
" This is a really
important segment for
our country and it will
probably go hydrogen
fuel cell before it goes
pure electric. "
Farley: " This
is a really
important
segment . . .
and it will
probably go
hydrogen fuel
cell before
it goes pure
electric. "
FILE PHOTO
Elsewhere in Kentucky, Ford is investing
heavily in EVs. The automaker, along
with battery partner SK Innovation Co., is
pouring US $5.8 billion into a battery manufacturing
complex in rural Glendale that is
expected to create about 5,000 jobs.
At its Oakville, Ont., assembly plant,
Ford plans to spend nearly $2 billion to
build five electric vehicle models. - ANC
- With files from Michael Martinez
and Greg Layson
J.D. Power awards five
Dilawri Group dealerships
The stores ranked
'best of the best'
for customer service
By GREG LAYSON
DIGITAL AND MOBILE EDITOR
J.D. POWER'S DEALER OF
Excellence Program has arrived
in Canada and has named its first
five winning dealerships, all of
them part of the Dilawri Group.
Markham Honda, Dixie
Mazda, Acura North Toronto,
Volkswagen de Sources and Audi
Queensway were recognized for
their customer-friendly sales
experience. Dilawri has 76 stores,
according to its website.
J.D. Power said the program,
which has been in the United
States since 2016, " reflects the
commitment and dedication
select retailers provide to their
customers with a purchase experience
that meets today's customer
expectations. "
" The program is designed to
recognize the best of the best with
only about two to three per cent
of all Canadian franchised dealerships
being eligible to become a
J.D. Power Dealer of Excellence, "
the analytics firm said in a statement.
To
qualify, a dealership must
have earned their respective
manufacturer's award for customer
satisfaction and/or sales
satisfaction. For example, it
must have won the MercedesBenz
Best of the Best award,
been named GM's Dealer of the
Year or captured Lexus's Elite of
Lexus honours.
Interested dealerships must
also rank among their brand's
top performers in key customer
satisfaction areas as determined
by J.D. Power.
Qualifying dealers must pass
an in-dealership sales process
verification and show they meet
or exceed J.D. Power sales best
practices, including professional
customer communication and
an efficient online-to-showroom
transition.
J.D. Power will also send a
Dealer of Excellence inspector to
the dealership to interview the
general manager or owner, sales
manager, F&I manager and the
newest sales team member who
has undergone the dealership's
training regimen.
J.D. Ney, automotive practice
lead at J.D. Power Canada, said
recognized dealers " will benefit
by leveraging the J.D. Power
brand and promoting their dealership's
commitment to an outstanding
customer experience. "
- ANC
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Automotive News Canada - October 2022

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