Ford Ranger, Bronco Return Unaffected by Trump Win

Ford is not changing plans to build the Ranger pickup and Bronco SUV in Michigan after shifting Focus small car production to Mexico, despite the campaign threats by President-elect Donald Trump to impose tariffs on vehicles made south of the border.

The Dearborn-based automaker found itself in Trump's protectionist crosshairs during the election campaign because of plans to shift the production of the Ford Focus and C-Max small cars to Mexico in 2018. But the move frees up the Michigan Assembly Plant to build a new Ford Ranger pickup and also bring back the Ford Bronco SUV.

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Ford CEO Mark Fields said everything is still on track for two new products to be built in Michigan, despite the Trump presidential win. The automaker sent a letter congratulating the president-elect and has been in constant communication with Trump's transition team.

"We have had conversations with the transition team," Fields said on the opening day of the Los Angeles Auto Show's media days. I've sent a congratulatory letter to the president-elect and we look forward to working with the new administration and the entire newly-elected Congress."

He warned that small car buyers and the U.S. economy in general would be penalized if Trump follows through on threats to impose a 35-percent tariff on made-in-Mexico vehicles. Meanwhile, Ford this week unveiled a version of the EcoSport subcompact crossover that will be sold in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2018. The new model will be imported from Chennai, India.