As Ford Motor Co. prepares for a record year of vehicle introductions, President of the Americas Joe Hinrichs will discuss the global competitiveness of today’s automotive industry. Hinrichs, who introduced the next-generation F-150 last month in Detroit, is scheduled to give the keynote speech during an Economic Club of Chicago lunch Thursday at the 2014 Chicago Auto Show.
CHICAGO, IL- As Ford Motor Co. prepares for a record year of vehicle introductions, President of the Americas Joe Hinrichs this week will discuss the global competitiveness of today’s automotive industry.
Hinrichs, who introduced the next-generation F-150 last month in Detroit, is scheduled to give the keynote speech during an Economic Club of Chicago lunch Thursday at the 2014 Chicago Auto Show.
Hinrichs, according to officials, will address more than 600 Economic Club of Chicago members, guests and journalists about “global competitiveness, including the resurgence of manufacturing to the United States and the impact that global trade agreements have on the U.S. economy and, notably, on the automotive manufacturing industry.”
Ford this year is expected to launch 23 all-new or significantly refreshed vehicles around the world — more than double the 11 global vehicle launches in 2013. Sixteen of those cars and trucks are expected for the U.S. market.
Hinrichs' lunch address follows Bob Carter, senior vice president of automotive operations for Toyota Motor Sales USA, opening the auto show Thursday morning.
Joe Hinrichs, Ford president of the Americas, during the debut of the 2015 F-150 at the 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.As for Ford at the show, the Mustang headlines a line of new pony car-themed pinball games to be revealed at the Chicago Auto Show. Crafted by Chicago’s own Stern Pinball, the Mustang-inspired games combine two prime examples of 20th century American pop culture – the coin-operated pinball machine and the original pony car.
About a dozen vehicles are expected to debut at the show’s press and social media preview days Feb. 6-7. The show is open to the public from Feb. 8-17 at Chicago’s massive McCormick Place conference center. Tickets are $6 for senior citizens and children between 7-12 years old; $12 for adults; and free for children 6 and under. For more information on tickets, visit chicagoautoshow.com.
Click here for the most recent news from the 2014 Chicago Auto Show.
Michael Wayland covers the automotive industry for MLive. Email him at MWayland@mlive.com & follow him on Twitter @MikeWayland or Google+.