KANSAS CITY, Missouri - March 30, 2012 - Ford Motor Co. has notified Missouri that it will temporarily lay off 1,222 workers in about a month as it retools its Kansas City Assembly Plant to produce a new vehicle.

The Ford Escape ends production at the Claycomo plant on April 27. After that, it will be produced in Kentucky at the Louisville Assembly Plant and the Claycomo plant will switch over to the new Ford Transit Connect commercial van.

“These layoffs are the direct result of upgrades to prepare for the new Transit,” Ford spokeswoman Marcey Evans said. “Employees are on layoff as we renovate.”

Evans said Ford hasn’t set a more specific time for Transit production to start than during the 2013 calendar year.

Ford F-150 production at the plant will continue uninterrupted.