A $555m (£346m) investment will see auto maker Ford Motor Company add a second shift and 1,200 new jobs at its Flat Rock, Michigan assembly plant next year when it starts production of its new Fusion model.

The plant, a 50:50 split joint venture between Ford and Mazda Motor Corporation, was previously known as AutoAlliance International, but now takes on the Flat Rock name as it is under the full operational control of Ford.

With the conclusion of the production of the Mazda6, Ford will produce Fusion and Mustang, employing a total of 2,900 workers.

Ford has around 168,000 employees and about 65 plants worldwide.