国际英语新闻：U.S. automaker Ford to add 1,200 jobs in Chicago

CHICAGO, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. automaker Ford is planning to add 1,200 jobs at its Chicago-based manufacturing facility, officials announced here Tuesday.

Ford will begin production of a new version of the Ford Explorer SUV at its Torrence Avenue plant on Chicago's South Side later this year.

Those new workers will be the first hired by Ford at sharply reduced wages, under a 2007 contract that allows Ford, General Motors and Chrysler to fill some jobs at about half the pay of what current workers made when they start, and with lower benefits.

Illinois Governor Quinn, who engineered the project, is making the announcement with Ford officials in Chicago. Ford is planning to invest 400 million U.S. dollars in the Chicago facility. The auto maker received tax assistance from the state and nearly 17 million dollars in tax increment financing from the city of Chicago.