Automotive Components Holdings

Automotive Components Holdings, LLC (ACH) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company, formed by the 2005 transfer of 17 automotive components factories and 6 research, testing, and other facilities from Visteon Corporation to Ford Motor Company. The goal of the creation of ACH was to ensure Ford a continued flow of critical parts used in their business while at the same time allowing Visteon to shed several plants which hurt its profitability, thus allowing Visteon restructure its operations around several core areas of automotive parts. ACH's mandate is essentially to put itself out of business by the end of 2008 by disposing of all its operating facilities through closures, divestiture, mergings, etc.

Initially Ford received a substantial amount of interest in the ACH plants it acquired. However, with Ford itself in the midst of significantly downsizing its production operations and many other auto parts suppliers putting some or all of their assets up for sale, the company has only been able to complete a handful of deals for the ACH plants. Many potential buyers have also cited the fact that the ACH plants have some of the automotive supplier industry's highest labor costs with $28 an hour wages as a major reason why they have not been willing to pursue purchases of the facilities.

A complete list of the ACH facilities transferred back to Ford, their primary products, and their status as of early 2008, if known, appears below.

ACH Plants

Autoidrio Plant--Mexico (glass): ACH announced on April 14, 2008 that it has completed the sale of this facility to Zeledyne Glass Products, a company specifically formed to take over all of the former glass operations of ACH and run them as an independent company.

Chesterfield Plant--Chesterfield Township. Michigan (seating foam): This plant was closed in June 2006.

EL Jarudo Plant--Mexico (powertrain): ACH officially sold this plant to Cooper-Standard Automotive on April 2, 2007.

Indanapolis Plant--Indanapolis, Indiana (steering components): Ford has announced its intention to close this plant by the end of 2008.

Kansas City Plant--Kansas City, Missouri (IP/lamp final assembly & sequencing): This plant was closed in December 2006.

Milan Plant--Milan, Michigan (powertrain): ACH announced on December 21, 2006 that it had reached a tentative agreement to sell this plant to Flex-N-Gate Corporation. The sale has yet to be completed.

Monroe Plant--Monroe, Michigan (chassis): The plant's driveshaft business was sold to Neapco Drivelines, a division of China's Wanxiang Group on Jan. 24, 2008. The company plans to move the driveshaft business along with its 300 employees to a new facility in a suburb of Detroit. No other deals have been announced for the plant's remaining operations.

Nashville Glass Plant--Nashville, Tennessee (glass): ACH announced on April 14, 2008 that it has completed the sale of this facility to Zeledyne Glass Products, a company specifically formed to take over all of the former glass operations of ACH and run them as an independent company.

Rawsonville Plant--Ypsilanti, Michigan (powertrain): This plant has been transferred back to Ford and now operates as a Ford facility.

Saline Plant--Saline, Michigan (interiors): ACH announced on November 15, 2007 that it had reached a tentative agreement to sell the plant to Johnson Controls pending the ability of Johnson Controls to reach a competitive labor agreement with the plant's employees.

Sandusky Plant--Sandusky, Ohio (lighting/air induction/fuel vapor storage): ACH announced on June 12, 2007 that it had signed a tentative non-binding agreement for Meridian Automotive Systems to purchase this facility. However, the sale has yet to be completed. As of June 19th 2008, Meridian has terminated it's memorandum of understanding with Ford and ACH and will no longer be attempting to acquire this plant.

Sheldon Road Plant--Plymouth, Michigan (climate controls): ACH announced on December 4, 2006 that it had reached a tentative agreement to sell this plant to Paris-based Valeo, Inc. The sale has yet to be completed.

Sterling Plant--Sterling Heights, Michigan (chassis): This plant has been transferred back to Ford and now operates as a Ford facility.

Tulsa Glass Plant--Tulsa, Oklahoma (glass): ACH announced on April 14, 2008 that it has completed the sale of this facility to Zeledyne Glass Products, a company specifically formed to take over all of the former glass operations of ACH and run them as an independent company.

Utica Plant--Shelby Twp. Michigan (interiors, exteriors): Ford has announced its intention to close this plant in 2008. Much of the work done at this plant is being consolidated in the Sterling Plant.

Ypsilanti Plant--Ypsilanti Michigan (chassis): Ford will close this plant by the end of 2008.

Research, Testing, and Other Facilities

Bellevue Facility--Bellevue, Ohio (aftermarket parts & distribution): ACH announced on June 12, 2007 that it had signed a tentative non-binding agreement for Meridian Automotive Systems to purchase this facility. However, the agreement has yet to be executed.

Carlite Warehouse--Lebanon, Tennessee (glass distribution center): ACH announced on April 14, 2008 that it has completed the transfer of the lease for this facility to Zeledyne Glass Products, a company specifically formed to take over all of the former glass operations of ACH and run them as an independent company.

Commerce Park South--Building D Dearborn, Michigan (chassis engineering/glass lab)

Glass Systems Main Office--Allen Park, Michigan (glass): ACH announced on April 14, 2008 that it has completed the transfer of the lease for this facility to Zeledyne Glass Products, a company specifically formed to take over all of the former glass operations of ACH and run them as an independent company.

Product Assurance Center--Dearborn, Michigan (research & development, testing)

Technical Center--Dearborn, Michigan (research & product development support)

References

*"Nathan Bomey: Saline ACH plant improved its equipment." "Ann Arbor Business Review". 22 November 2007. http://blog.mlive.com/ann_arbor_business_review/2007/11/nathan_bomey_saline_ach_plant.html

*"Buyer shows interest in ACH plant: Company executives say Flex-N-Gate plans to buy site." "The Milan News-Leader". 21 December 2006.http://www.milannews.com/stories/122106/loc_20061221002.shtml

*"Ford to Sell or Close Ex-Visteon Plants." "AFX News Limited". 18 September 2006.http://www.aftermarketnews.com/default.aspx?type=art&id=78782

*"ACH's bid to sell former Ford plants on track; first sale made." "Crain's Detroit Business". 28 January 2008.http://www.crainsdetroit.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080128/SUB/801280305/1068

*"Ford ACH unit completes Mexico fuel rail plant sale." "Just-auto.com". 2 April 2007.http://www.just-auto.com/article.aspx?ID=90918

*"SALE COMPLETED FOR AUTOMOTIVE COMPONENTS HOLDINGS’ GLASS OPERATIONS." 14 April 2008. http://media.ford.com/newsroom/release_display.cfm?release=28055

*"Ford prepares to list Ypsilanti ex-Visteon plant for sale." Ann Arbor Business Review. 5 July 2007. http://blog.mlive.com/ann_arbor_business_review/2007/07/ford_prepares_to_list_ypsilant.html