Ford consolidates UK operations in Dunton

Ford has consolidated its UK operations at the renamed Dunton Campus, where it has established its European Commercial Vehicle headquarters.

As part of the move, Ford hopes to double its commercial vehicle profitability within the next five years.

In addition to the location for the European Commercial Vehicles business group, the Dunton Campus, is now home to Ford’s light commercial vehicle engineering, powertrain engineering, Ford of Britain national sales company, and Ford Credit Europe, Ford’s banking arm. 

Graham Hoare, chairman, Ford of Britain, and executive director, Business Transformation, Ford of Britain, said, ‘This is an important step for our Ford business activities and shows our continued commitment to the U.K. This is one among a number of actions as we continue to improve our efficiency and effectiveness to create a sustainably profitable Ford business in this country.

‘The consolidation of our Commercial Vehicles business group and our other main office and technical operations on the Dunton Campus provides many of our employees with better, more creative and collaborative working environments, while also reducing costs and enhancing our ability to better focus on the needs of our customers.’

Meanwhile, Ford is announcing investment of £23m to construct a new commercial vehicle Advanced Propulsion Laboratory on the Dunton Campus that includes powertrain NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) test chambers, and a testing area for electrification technologies. The new test facilities start operation in late 2020, and technical personnel presently working in other test areas will operate the new facilities following any required upskilling or retraining.

Hans Schep, general manager, Commercial Vehicles, Ford of Europe, said, ‘The new Advanced Propulsion Laboratory supports our U.K. and European commercial vehicle leadership and enables us to stay at the forefront of new vehicle technologies, including electrification.’