Bill Ford shares concerns over policy changes affecting company investments – 9&10 News

The Mackinac Policy Conference also heard from the Ford family on their role in a changing industry and uncertain economic headwinds.

Bill Ford, executive chair of Ford Motor Company, says that his company communicates with the White House on a near-daily basis.

But, Ford says that current economic whiplash is causing difficulties for the company’s investments, including a battery facility in south-central Michigan.

Ford singled out proposed changes to federal production tax credits included in Republicans’ government budget bill.

“We made a certain investment based upon a policy that was in place. It’s not fair to change policies, after all the expenditure has been made,” he said.”Going forward, if you want to go down a different road, that’s fine, you know, because we can adjust to anything. But we actually don’t think it’s fair to to have all the money expended — offer all those jobs, about to open it and then say, ah, sorry, we’re changing the policy.”

Ford also said that the rapid pace of some policy changes are making plans for future investments difficult.

“We can adapt to almost anything except uncertainty. And unfortunately, where we are right now is there’s nothing but uncertainty,” he said.

Ford highlighted the company’s footprint already in American manufacturing and says that he would like to see a more robust domestic industry.

According to its most recent report, Ford produces 1.8 million vehicles per year in the US, making up a vast majority of their American sales.