Ford Motor Co. is spending $1.6 billion to upgrade two U.S. plants for new products.

Ford says it’s investing $1.4 billion in its Livonia, Michigan, transmission plant to build a new 10-speed transmission. The company says it will create or retain 500 hourly jobs at the plant to make the transmission, which will debut later this year on the F-150 Raptor.

Dearborn, Michigan-based Ford is also investing $200 million in its Ohio Assembly Plant to build Super Duty chassis cabs, which are used for commercial vehicles. Ford says it will create or retain 150 jobs at that plant.

Ford says the projects are part of its commitment to invest $9 billion in U.S. plants over the next four years.

(AP)