BRIEFLY

Ford Motor Co. ends production of the Mercury Villager in Avon Lake, OH, June 27 as part of the “revitalization” plan that also discontinued the Escort June 28 in Hermosillo, Mexico, and the Lincoln Continental July 26 in Wixom, MI. Also, the final Mercury Cougar will be built Aug. 30 in Flat Rock, MI.

Villager has been endangered since 2000, when Ford and Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. announced they would separate the Villager/Nissan Quest twins by the end of this year. Nissan will build the Quest next year at its Greenfield site in Mississippi. Ford is retooling Avon Lake (known as Ohio Assembly) to add 45,000 Escape cross/utility vehicles next year while continuing to do Econoline and Club Wagon bodies.

Ford assembles another 260,000 Escapes at Kansas City Assembly in Claycomo, MO. Unknown is which plant will add the ‘04 gas-electric HEV Escape late next year, but one source says Ford is leaning toward Avon Lake. Volume could be as high as 25,000 units.