St. Paul encourages Ford to build fuel-efficient vans in city

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The St. Paul Ford plant is set to close in two years, but city leaders are encouraging the big auto maker to make small fuel-efficient vans in the factory.

Mayor Chris Coleman and Council Member Pat Harris have written to officials with Ford and Smith Electric Vehicles.

Smith has teamed up with Ford to make an electric version of the Transit Connect van.

In the letter, Coleman and Harris wrote:

"Saint Paul looks forward to seeing the first Transit Connect vehicles on our streets and hopefully in our fleet operations in the next couple years."

The city officials said they would do everything in their power to convince the companies to assemble Transit Connect vans at the Highland Park facility.