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Ford adds EV drive unit casting line at Rawsonville, cuts part count by 40%

The Ypsilanti, Michigan plant will produce structural castings for the company's next-generation EV drive units, continuing Ford's shift toward integrated aluminum components.

Jordan Keene
Automotive die casting equipment producing aluminum parts

Ford announced a $270 million investment to add a high-pressure die casting line at its Rawsonville plant in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The line will supply structural castings for the company's next-generation EV drive units, cutting total part count on the housing by roughly 40%.

The project uses presses sized above 6,000 tons, following the approach Tesla popularized and that Ford has been piloting at its Sharonville, Ohio site. Ford said the new line will support volumes for the next mid-size EV platform and will run in parallel with an aluminum alloy development lab on site.

UAW Local 892 welcomed the investment, noting it backfills work lost when Rawsonville's legacy cylinder head line was wound down in 2024. Ford said existing hourly headcount at the site will grow by about 450 positions.

Written by

Jordan Keene

OEM programs, EV drive units, and tier-1 supply chain reporting from Detroit.

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