Gov. Jay Nixon today joined officials from the Ford Motor Company at the 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit for the unveiling of the all-new 2015 Ford F-150, which will be built at the company’s Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo.

Gov. Jay Nixon with Ford President of the Americas Joe Hinrichs. (Photo courtesy Governor's Office.)

Gov. Jay Nixon with Ford President of the Americas Joe Hinrichs. (Photo courtesy Governor’s Office.)

The Governor and legislature have worked closely with Ford to increase production in Missouri.

“Missouri’s highly skilled workforce, low taxes and smart investments continue to bring new jobs and new opportunities to the Show-Me State,” Nixon said. “This next-generation Ford pickup is another example of how the Missouri auto industry is leading the nation in innovation and excellence, and driving our economy in the right direction.”

The 2015 Ford F-150 boasts an all-new high-strength steel frame, a high-strength aluminum-alloy body, and greater efficiency with a 2.7 liter EcoBoost engine.  The F-150 is part of the Ford F-Series, the best-selling vehicle in the nation for 32 years.

“Today’s unveiling of the new Ford F-150 is another example of how the highly skilled workers of the UAW continue to drive America’s economy forward,” said Gary Jones, Director of UAW Region 5. “The UAW has been proud to work with Governor Nixon and others to strengthen Ford’s presence in Claycomo and create thousands of good family-supporting jobs in this region.  Today, we see how this successful partnership continues to pay dividends for working families in Missouri and across the nation.”

Gov. Nixon has made revitalizing Missouri’s automotive manufacturing industry a top priority of his administration, and on his watch this sector has seen tremendous growth. On his first day as Governor in 2009, Gov. Nixon established an Automotive Jobs Task Force to make recommendations on strategies to attract automotive investment in Missouri.

In 2010, Gov. Nixon called the Missouri General Assembly into special session to pass the Missouri Manufacturing Jobs Act, which contained new incentives specifically geared to Missouri auto manufacturers and suppliers. The Governor and members of his economic development team also traveled to Detroit on numerous occasions to meet with leadership at Ford.

In October 2011, Ford announced its $1.1 billion expansion at the Kansas City Assembly Plant, which included production of the Ford Transit van for the first time in the U.S. and the addition of a second production line for its popular F-150 pick-up.

In 2013, Ford announced a third production shift at the plant for the Ford F-150, to meet the increased demand.  With Ford F-Series sales up for the year, a third production shift at its Kansas City Assembly Plant will help Ford meet this demand while creating an additional 900 auto manufacturing jobs.