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| The Freestar will be manufactured at Ford's Oakville, Ontario Assembly Plant, seen here as an aerial view. (Photo: Ford Motor) |
Prospective buyers may want to take notice, however, of where the new Ford will be built, as attracting automakers to invest in Canada is tougher than ever before. Ford's decision to base Freestar production in Oakville, Ontario, supporting CAW workers and surrounding businesses, may be a viable selling point to some loyal Canadians. For the record Chrysler also produces its top-selling minivans in Canada.
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| In the U.S. market Ford will sell the Mercury Monterey alongside the Freestar. (Photo: Ford Motor) |
"Freestar is a very important product for Ford of Canada and shows our commitment to Canada as a great place to do business," said Alain Batty, Ford Motor Company of Canada president and CEO. "That's why we invested $600 million in the Oakville Assembly Plant for the production of Freestar," Batty added. Ford of Canada's Essex Engine Plant in Windsor will produce the van's V6 engine as well as for the all-new Mercury Monterey minivan, not expected to be sold north of the 49th parallel.