Avon Lake Ford plant starts production of trucks dubbed "The Beast" (photos)

New F-650 and F-750 trucks rolled off the line Wednesday in Avon Lake. Full production of Ford's medium duty trucks was moved here from a plant in Mexico.

AVON LAKE, Ohio - Full production of the new Ford F-650 and F-750 medium duty trucks has started at Ford's Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake - production that was removed from a plant in Mexico.

The first trucks coming off the line translates to security of more than 1,000 hourly United Auto Workers jobs and a $168 million plant investment in the United States.

The move is a rarity - and welcomed Wednesday by high-ranking Ford officials, federal, state and local politicians, and area business leaders who celebrated at the plant.

The trucks are nicknamed "The Beast" because of their size -- 281 inches bumper to bumper and 108 inches across.

Joe Hinrichs, Ford president, The Americas, said the company's investment in the plant not only reinforces the company's commitment to building vehicles in America, but also to delivering best-in-class commercial trucks.

"Working with our partners in the UAW, we found a way to make the costs competitive enough to bring production of a whole new generation of work trucks to Ohio," he said.

Union officials said it took more time than expected to renovate the plant to build the new trucks, but workers have been slowly building the new vehicles for weeks in preparation for the full assembly - now under way.

U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur said she's been in office long enough to see the auto industry transformed. Ohio is second only to Michigan in direct auto manufacturing and employs nearly 9 percent of all U.S. auto workers.

"Thank you for all of the hard knocks that the history of this plant represents," said Kaptur. "Thank you for believing in America and your ability to transform it."

The automotive industry makes up 11 percent of Ohio's workforce, and auto industry wages/salaries in the state average more than $60,100.

"It is actually a gift to be able to be a part of helping your country when she most needs you," Kaptur said. "And I can tell, for every person here who has given their life to the automotive industry and to the Ford motor company, when you look back at your life, you will have been relevant in your own time, not just to your family, but to the company and to the country."