100,000 Hybrid Ford Escapes and Mercury Mariners Roll Off The Assembly Line
March 10, 2009
By Carlos Lago
This week, Ford's 100,000th hybrid SUV traveled down the assembly line at the automaker's Kansas City assembly plant. The manufacturing plant employs 4,100 and has produced the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner hybrids since 2004. Both SUVs offer fuel economy of 34 mpg city and 31 mpg highway.
Accompanying the hybrid SUVs this year are the well received Ford Fusion hybrid and Mercury Milan hybrid twin, both of which offer 41 mpg city. The new hybrid sedans will effectively double Ford's hybrid vehicle production.
Last week, Ford announced that electric cars will make a major portion of its vehicle lineup. The company's goal, as per Alan Mulally, is to transition away from pickups and SUVs, bringing a plug-in hybrid to market by 2012. The company received approval for $55 million in tax credits from Michigan for investing in electric vehicle research.
Source: Ford