Ford announced a plan to invest more than $1bn over the next 10 years to modernise its Dearborn, Michigan facility.
It would be developed as a better workplace which will foster innovation as the company looks to transform itself from an auto company to a mobility company.
As a manufacturing company, Ford wants to design, manufacture, sell and service automobiles and as a mobility company, it wants to explore emerging opportunities Ford Smart Mobility through autonomous vehicles, customer experience and data and analytics.
Dearborn facility has been Ford's two primary locations (headquarters and product campus) for more than 60 years, spread across 70 buildings with 30,000 employees.
Ford has plans to rebuild more than 7.5 million square feet of work space and upgrade it with modern technology and connected facilities.
Ford president and CEO Mark Fields said: "As we transition to an auto and a mobility company, we're investing in our people and the tools they use to deliver our vision.
"Bringing our teams together in an open, collaborative environment will make our employees' lives better, speed decision-making and deliver results for both our core and emerging businesses."
The construction will occur in at least two phases. In the first phase, Ford will begin construction of the new campus this month, starting at the Ford Research and Engineering Center and majority of the work is expected to be completed by 2023.
In the second phase, construction of Ford World Headquarters will begin in 2021 and is expected to complete by 2026.
Ford's Research and Engineering Center Campus which presently has 12,000 employees will be converted into an ultra-modern, innovative work environment where 24,000 employees will be able to work in a 4.5 million square feet of work space.
The new product campus will have paths, trails and covered walkways and will house a new design centre and pilot location for autonomous vehicles, on-demand shuttles, eBikes, new onsite employee services and wireless connectivity speeds, which are 10 times faster than what it is today.
The new Ford World Headquarters will have more than 1.3 million square foot of work space and will be an employee-friendly campus.
This facility will have improved connectivity, walkways, covered parking decks and outdoor recreational facilities as well. The company says that it will include green planted space with native species and tree canopy.
Ford said that it will design and construct its new facilities with sustainability features. It plans to make the facility a net zero-waste, net zero-energy, net zero-water facility and will be heated and cooled using geothermal energy and powered by the sun.
Ford executive chairman Bill Ford said: "Just as the Rouge manufacturing renovation completed in 2003 set a new standard for sustainability, we expect to do the same as we transform our campuses into a modern, efficient complex that enhances the environment."
"This project incorporates thoughtful ways to improve the environmental footprint of our facilities, while creating a vibrant workplace that inspires our employees."
Image: Ford Dearborn, Michigan Campus to be transformed in the coming years. Photo: Courtesy of Ford.
