Ford plans 23 new cars, 5,000 new US jobs in 2014

Friday, December 13, 2013, Vol. 37, No. 50

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — Ford Motor Co. says 2014 will be its busiest year ever, with 23 new vehicles being introduced around the world.

Joe Hinrichs, Ford's president of the Americas, says Ford will support that growth with 5,000 new hires in the U.S. and 6,000 new jobs in Asia, where it's opening two new plants.

A new F-150 pickup and Mustang sports car are among the vehicles coming next year. Of the 23 new vehicles, Hinrichs says 16 will be sold in the U.S. That's three times the number introduced this year.

Hinrichs made the announcement at an event to introduce a new Ford research vehicle that's testing driverless technology. The top of the car has four sensors that can track moving objects and make a three-dimensional map for the driver.