Ford changes plans for production shift to Mexico

The automaker said it will keep open a production line for one of its models at a Kentucky plant instead of relocating it to Mexico and President-elect Trump hailed the decision.    Ford Motor Co. reversed course Thursday evening on plans to move a production line from a plant in Louisville, Ky., to Mexico, but it was unclear what, if any role, pressure from President-elect Donald Trump played in the decision.
   Ford had previously said it planned to move production of the Lincoln MCK crossover sport-utility vehicle to Mexico when its contract with the United Auto Workers expired in 2019 and that no jobs would be lost because the plant would expand production of the Ford Escape model there, according to The Detroit News and Automotive News.
   Ford officials said they notified Trump of the decision and Trump took credit for the change in a tweet.
   During the presidential campaign, Trump criticized Ford for looking to lay off workers and send the jobs to Mexico. He portrayed the company as a poster child for bad trade deals, such as NAFTA, that he alleged harmed the middle class. He threatened to hike tariffs on imports from companies that relocated production overseas.
   Ford produces cars in Mexico and another plant is on the drawing board in San Luis Potosi for 2019.
   The company stressed that it never planned to close the Louisville plant, only production of the one model.