Indianapolis - Ford says it plans to idle its Indianapolis steering systems plant with more than 1,500 workers by the end of 2008.
Ford spokeswoman Della DiPietro says the automaker was unable to find a suitable buyer for the plant, which opened in 1957 and has been outpaced by changing automotive production.
The plant makes hydraulic steering systems, while much of the industry - including Ford - is switching to electronic systems.
The auto industry also is moving away from big plants to smaller operations with lower overhead.
The Indianapolis plant was one of several Ford took back in a bailout of Visteon, a supplier Ford had spun off.
Most of the employees at the plant on the city's east side already have accepted buyout or retirement offers.
"There's nothing new about it. We've known for years and the whole world knows that Ford is retrenching. My main thoughts are with the workers there and I know that a very high percentage had already accepted buyouts and many were close to retirement. It really affects Virginia, not us. We should all just be very glad that company maintains its commitment to Indiana, which it always has historically. But I'm sure they're upset in Virginia today," said Gov. Mitch Daniels Friday.
Mayor Bart Peterson issued a statement late Thursday in response to Ford's announcement, saying, "We're greatly disappointed over Ford's decision today to close its steering systems plant on the east side. The city, in partnership with the state, brought all possible resources to bear in an effort to save the plant and its jobs that employ so many hardworking men and women. Unfortunately, restructuring and cutbacks in the American auto industry drove this decision by Ford."
The mayor says the focus will be on helping the workers prepare for the closing. "I have asked the Indianapolis Private Industry Council, the city's central workforce development agency, to begin immediately implementing a targeted job assistance and training program that will assess worker needs and connect them with the necessary resources to find quality job opportunities. While the plant doors don't close until the end of 2008, our work to help those impacted starts now."
