Chicago Ford plant operating at capacity

CHICAGO | The nation’s improved economy and the sales of Police Interceptors has the Ford Chicago Assembly plant working at maximum capacity.

Adventures in Everyday Living, Shorelines Thursday, May 16, 2013

Two Grand Openings for modern classics a LEED-Certified Strack & Van Til in Cedar Lake and the World's Largest Model A Ford Museum in Michigan; also SSA's Roaring '20s Beaux Arts Ball may be weeks away, but tickets could be sold out by this weekend.---Pat Colander, Associate Publisher an…

Ford Motor Company Does It Again

EAST CHICAGO | The employees of Ford Motor Company are making Nazareth Home a holiday tradition by making sure the children are remembered at Christmastime. At the end of 2011, a group of Ford Motor Company employees brought a check representing donations from employees, as well as diapers, …

Quinn extends Enterprise Zone program

CHICAGO | Gov. Pat Quinn gave final approval Tuesday to an extension of Enterprise Zones, offering tax incentives to revitalize former and declining industrial sites across Illinois.

Ford making Sport edition of Explorer; production to start in summer in Chicago

Ford Motor Co. is expecting to deliver a sport edition of its Ford Explorer to its new car dealerships later this year.

Regulator opens Ford Taurus safety investigation

A federal safety regulator has opened an investigation into reports of sticking throttles from a detached cruise control cable on Ford Taurus vehicles.

Becoming a Zipster: Zipcar members can reserve cars 24/7

To rent a Zipcar for as little as half an hour or as long as four days (longer rentals can be arranged through the company), a person first has to become a member.

Ford pays hourly worker bonus, restores dividend

Ford Motor Co. is providing a $250 competitiveness bonus to its UAW hourly workforce for helping the automaker meet internal goals.

Auto parts employment boost shakes off recession

Higher post-recession operating levels in the automotive industry has helped Lear Corp.'s manufacturing plant meet employment projections. "Right now, we're basically going full-steam," a union leader said about the production activity.

Lear plant employment boost helping shake off recession

HAMMOND | Higher post-recession operating levels in the automotive industry has helped Lear Corp.'s seat manufacturing plant meet employment projections set last year.

Ford workers reject tentative pact

Union workers at Ford Motor Co.'s Chicago Assembly Plant voted down a four-year tentative contract agreement, a union official said Thursday.

UAW locals approve Ford strike authorization

Hourly union workers at Chicago-area United Auto Workers locals have voted to authorize a strike against Ford Motor Co. if a new deal isn't reached within the next few weeks.

St. John man finds car of his youth 50 years after selling it

Many people recall their first car. A few buy the same model in their later years out of nostalgia. But rarely can someone claim to have bought back the exact car they owned in their youth.

Ford among automakers working on tech to reduce congestion, accidents

Automakers and the federal government are working on technology to make communication between vehicles as common and effective as drivers speaking to each other.

Longest-tenured Ford UAW employee nets praise in surprise celebration

CHICAGO HEIGHTS | Colleagues describe 85-year-old Harold Michalak as the guy who comes to work early and is one of the last to leave.

UAW official visits Chicago to talk Ford bargaining strategy

CHICAGO HEIGHTS | An official from United Auto Workers international visited Ford Motor Co.'s Chicago Stamping Plant here Tuesday to talk with local union leaders and employees.

Autos – Back on Track

When car sales went into a tailspin with the economy in Fall 2008, things were looking pretty grim. Sales plummeted to 13 million from 16-17 million for the previous several years. In last year's NWI Now auto section, we reported a dismal 10.4 million U.S. sales for 2009, though we could see…

Economist presents money solutions to Illinois lawmakers

SPRINGFIELD | Illinois should become a manufacturing leader in the Midwest and shouldn't rely solely on other states to buy its goods.

Ford plans to add 7,000 workers within 2 years

Ford Motor Co. plans to hire 7,000 new hourly and salaried employees within the next two years for jobs in U.S. cities including Chicago, the company said Monday.