Ford Motor Co. invests $128M in Ohio plant

AVON LAKE — Ford Motor Co. said Tuesday its $128 million investment at a northeast Ohio plant will protect its nearly 2,000 jobs while shifting medium-duty truck production from Mexico.

The automaker will retool the Ohio Assembly Plant, located west of Cleveland, after ending production of Econoline vans in 2013, said Jim Tetreault, Ford’s vice president of North American manufacturing.

Truck production will be moved from a joint venture with Navistar International Corp. in General Escobedo, Mexico, near Monterrey.

Gov. John Kasich said the state’s incentive package valued at $15 million will be recouped within a year with higher tax collections.

“What’s a better Christmas present than hearing about this,” Kasich said. He said Ford’s announcement showed a positive trend for manufacturing.