Ford's auto plant on the banks of the Calumet River switched to production of the new vehicle models in June. “Across all the models of Ford Explorer, luxury Lincoln Aviator and the purpose-built Police Interceptor Utility, this plant serves diverse segments with incredible vehicles," Plant Manager Angela Weathers said. "Our team enhanced pre-launch testing and quality checks to help ensure these vehicles exceed our customers’ expectations.
We’re thrilled to have Explorer and Aviator SUVs out for delivery, building on Chicago Assembly Plant’s 100-year legacy of producing groundbreaking vehicles.” Since 2010, the plant at the intersection of Torrence and 130th avenues has made the Explorer. It's America's best-selling sport-utility vehicle with more than 8 million sold.
The new 2025 model features a redesigned interior, new exterior styling and new technology, including BlueCruise hands-free driving technology and a new Ford Digital Experience infotainment system with a bigger digital display. The plant is also making the new 2025 Lincoln Aviator, which includes the BlueCruise hands-free highway driving technology and the new Lincoln Digital Experience. United Auto Workers Local 551-represented workers, including many who hail from Northwest Indiana, have made 3.
3 million Explorer SUVs over the past 14 years. Ford employs more than 6,000 workers at the Chicago Assembly Plant and the Chicago Stamping Plant on U.S.
30 in Chicago Heights. About 15,000 Ford employees at .