DETROIT, Michigan: As Ford and the entire auto industry are beginning to recover after struggling US sales in 2022, Ford will increase production of six models this year, half of which are electric vehicles (EV).

Ford will build more of the Mustang Mach-E, Bronco Sport SUV and Maverick small pickup, the F-150 Lightning electric pickup, along with the Transit and E-Transit gas and electric full-size vans, the automaker said last week.

In 2022, Ford announced that it would add a third shift and 1,100 jobs at its van plant in Claycomo, Missouri, and another 3,200 jobs at its Dearborn, Michigan plant, which assembles the F-150 Lightning.

According to Ford spokesman Said Deep, this year it will also hire new workers at its plants in Cuautitlan and Hermosillo, Mexico, which manufactures the Mach-E, Maverick and Bronco Sport.

Due to a shortage of computer chips caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, US auto sales declined significantly over the past two years.

However, as the chip shortage eases, automakers, including Ford, are starting to increase production and add to stocks for dealers.

According to Autodata Corp, in 2022 US auto sales fell some 8 percent to under 14 million vehicles, with Ford's dropping just over 2 percent.

However, overall auto sector sales rose 9.5 percent in February over the same month last year, according to LMC Automotive, which predicts auto sales to rise to 15 million in 2023. Ford sales increased to almost 22 percent in February 2023.

"The industry is on its track back," noted Jeff Schuster, executive vice president of automotive for LMC and Global Data, as quoted by the Associated Press.

The increase in production will benefit consumers, who were forced to pay high prices due to high demand and low supplies, and have dealt with long waiting times for popular models.