FORD PICKS EXEL AS LEAD PARTNER FOR BRAZILIAN AUTO PLANT
Ford Motor Co. has contracted with Exel, a U.K.-based provider of logistics services, to act as a lead logistics partner supporting production of Ford’s new Fiesta model at an assembly plant in Bahia, in northeast Brazil.
Ford spent $1.2 billion to build the complex, known as Project Amazon, in the city of Camacari.
Exel said the work would be handled by Lean Logistics Ltda., Exel’s automotive subsidiary in Brazil.
“For the Amazon plant, we receive and line-feed material for Ford’s body shop, chassis, and final assembly, as well as for all full-service suppliers,” said Steve Lawrence, Exel’s director of internal logistics.
'When the plant is running at planned capacity, or producing 250,000 vehicles per year by 2005, it will receive 70 trailers of parts and materials each day.