Ford Motor Company will add an additional 200,000 units of annual straight-time capacity this year. In addition, Ford will produce an extra 40,000 units by idling select plants for only one week during what has been the traditional two-week summer shutdown. The 200,000 annual straight-time capacity additions this year will come from Chicago Assembly Plant, Flat Rock Assembly Plant and Kansas City Assembly Plant, including increased production of some of Ford's best-selling vehicles including Ford Explorer, Ford Fusion and Ford F-Series. The increased production at Kansas City Assembly Plant with the addition of a third crew, which Ford announced in early May, is included in the 200,000 increase. Additionally, 20 plants, including six assembly plants, will take a reduced summer shutdown this year. The assembly plants taking one week of shutdown are Chicago Assembly, Cuautitlan Assembly, Hermosillo Stamping and Assembly, Kentucky Truck, Michigan Assembly and Oakville Assembly. Other plants taking a reduced summer shutdown in 2013 include, Buffalo Stamping Plant, Chicago Stamping Plant, Chihuahua Engine, Dearborn Engine, Dearborn Tool & Die, Lima Engine Plant, Van Dyke Transmission Plant, and Woodhaven Forging. The company will perform routine maintenance and model-year changeover work at the following assembly facilities: Dearborn Truck Plant, Flat Rock Assembly Plant, Kansas City Assembly Plant, Louisville Assembly Plant and Ohio Assembly Plant.

Ford Motor Co. announced that it plans to continue investing in Canada. The company renovated the Expressway Ford Lincoln dealership in New Hamburg. The company recently renovated and added about 1,800 square feet of space at their Haysville Road dealership, including a new Lincoln showroom, new offices and boardroom. Ford also recently added a third shift to its Oakville plant and is working on making a further investment in Oakville.

Ford Motor Co. announced that it has named a new lead independent director - Ellen R. Marram, the first woman to hold the job - to its board. Named to the post was Ellen R. Marram, who is president of a business advisory firm, was added to the board after a longtime member retires. President of the Barnegat Group, LLC and former CEO of Tropicana Beverage Group, she has been a Ford board member for more than 20 years. Marram will chair the executive sessions of the independent directors, advise on selection on board committee chairs and work with Ford Jr. and Mulally to ensure management is adequately addressing the matters identified by the board. The company said Irvine O. Hockaday Jr., 76, a former president and CEO of Hallmark Cards Inc., was stepping down from the board. He helped recruit Mulally, then Boeing Co. executive, to become chief executive of Ford in 2006.