A Better Idea?

Building Fords in Mexico

Mexico has often been used by U.S. automakers as a junkyard for dumping outdated models. Now Ford is making a U-turn. The company has decided to cross the border and spend $500million to build a new small car at Hermosillo in northwestern Mexico.

To help make its Mexican car. Ford has teamed up with Toyo Kogyo, Japan's third-largest auto company, after Toyota and Nissan, and the maker of Mazda cars. Toyo Kogyo (1983 sales: $5.8 billion), 25% owned by Ford, will supply engines and transmissions for the Mexican model from its Hiroshima factories.

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