Ford to Close Light Truck Plants in Va., Minn. in 2008

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ord Motor Co. plants to close plants in Minnesota and Virginia in 2008 as part of its restructuring plan, the automaker said Thursday. Both facilities make light trucks.

The closing of the two plants — which together employ about 4,300 workers — are part of the company’s plan announced in January to cut up to 30,000 jobs as it seeks better profitability in its North American operations.

Ford said then that it would end close 14 plants, including seven assembly facilities. (Click here for previous coverage.)

The Twin Cities plant in St. Paul, Minn., makes the Ford Ranger compact pickup, which has seen sales decline sharply in recent years. The Norfolk, Va., facility makes the popular F-150 pickup truck.

The St. Paul plant employs about 1,900 workers and the Norfolk plant about 2,400. Both facilities opened in 1925.

Ford said it would announce plans for future pickup truck manufacturing closer to 2008. It said first-quarter Ranger sales fell 15.9%.

“Unfortunately, these are necessary steps we must take to move the business forward,” Mark Fields, president of Ford’s Americas unit, said in a statement.