Donald Trump Claims Credit for Keeping Auto Production in Kentucky

Donald Trump is taking credit, after Ford cancelled an expected decision to move some auto production from a factory in Kentucky to a factory in Mexico.

Just got a call from my friend Bill Ford, Chairman of Ford, who advised me that he will be keeping the Lincoln plant in Kentucky – no Mexico

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 18, 2016

I worked hard with Bill Ford to keep the Lincoln plant in Kentucky. I owed it to the great State of Kentucky for their confidence in me!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 18, 2016

According to a tweet from a reporter at Automotive News, the decision means that the Kentucky plant will keep providing the Lincoln MKC small SUV. The plant was not in danger of being shut down completely.

2015 UAW deal calls for Lincoln MKC production to leave Louisville by 2019. New location not yet announced, but was expected to be Mexico. https://t.co/AL9K4wqpH8

— Nick Bunkley (@nickbunkley) November 18, 2016

Lincoln MKC accounted for just 9% of the 421,079 vehicles built at Ford's Louisville Assembly Plant in 2015. About 1/3 were exported.

— Nick Bunkley (@nickbunkley) November 18, 2016

In September, the company announced plans to move production of compact cars to Mexico. A September report by the Associated Press said:

Ford currently makes its Fiesta subcompact in Mexico, but its Focus and C-Max small cars are made in suburban Detroit. Making them in Mexico would boost company profits because of low wages there.

The company is building a new $1.6 billion assembly plant in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. It will make small cars there starting in 2018.

Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant, which currently makes the small cars, will be getting new products under a contract signed last year with the United Auto Workers union. They will likely be larger, more profitable vehicles like the Ford Ranger pickup.

The Kentucky builds the Lincoln MKC compact luxury SUV.

The decision is a win for Trump, whose election has apparently killed off plans by President Barack Obama and Congress to pass the Trans-Pacific Partnership during by Christmas.