Westport Innovations opens plant to work with Ford in Kentucky

Westport Innovations new facility, located directly across the street from Ford ‘s truck plant in Lousville, Kentucky is capable of installing technology that will allow up to 20,000 to run on compressed natural gas and conventional gasoline. Westport Innovations (TSX:WPT) subsidiary, Westport LD, today announced it a has opened a new assembly centre, installing bi-fuel natural gas systems for Ford Super Duty pickups.

The new facility, which is capable of installing up to 20,000 systems per year is located directly across the street from Ford’s truck plant in Louisville.

Westport’s WiNG Power System creates trucks capable of running on two fuels; compressed natural gas and conventional gasoline.

Westport Light Duty is a subsidiary of Westport Innovations that offers natural gas and liquified petroleum engines, fuel systems and components for light duty cars and trucks. The company has already partnered with Cummins, Volkswagon, Fiat and Hyundai, and employs sixty people at a similar plant in Plymouth Michigan.

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Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear welcomed the Vancouver-based cleantech. “Westport is a global leader in fuel technologies, and we’re proud to have a company of its calibre here in the commonwealth,” he said, adding “The automotive industry is thriving here in the Bluegrass, and the addition of Westport only strengthens that ever-growing industry.”

Westport says it has been approved for tax incentives of up to $750,000 through the Kentucky Business Investment program, following an $4.5 million investment to establish the 50,000 square foot centre in Louisville. Westport renovated a previously vacant building, then invested in product training and skill development for what it expects will be forty new employees.

At press time, shares of Westport Innovations on the TSX were up .7% to $33.12.

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