Ford Motor to sell automotive lighting business to Flex-N-Gate

Ford Motor Co is selling its automotive lighting business and a plant to Ventra Sandusky, a unit of auto parts maker Flex-N-Gate, for an undisclosed sum.

The automotive lighting business, part of Ford's Automotive Components Holdings (ACH), makes headlamps and tail-lights.

Ford is also selling the ACH Sandusky plant in Ohio, which makes headlight and taillight components.  Ventra Sandusky also will run the ACH automotive lighting service parts operation in Bellevue, Ohio.

After completing this sale, ACH will have only one remaining operation - the climate control business at its Sheldon Road plant in Plymouth Township, Michigan.

Detroit-based Ford said that the sale to Ventra also represents the continued expansion of its business with minority-owned suppliers and builds on its 2011 new record of more than $5 billion in purchases from minority-owned businesses.

''This announcement marks another step forward in our goal to ensure financial stability and diversity in our supply base,'' said Tony Brown, group vice president, Ford Global Purchasing. ''We also are pleased to strengthen our business with Flex-N-Gate as a key member of our Aligned Business Framework.''