AVON LAKE, Ohio (AP) -- AT&T is giving a boost to a Ford Motor Co. plant in Ohio with plans to buy 8,000 cargo vans and convert them to run on natural gas.
The Ohio Assembly Plant about 20 miles west of Cleveland makes the E-Series commercial vans that will be converted to run on natural gas.
Sales of E-Series vans have been slumping as businesses have cut back on buying new vehicles. The plant was down for two weeks last month, and more down weeks could come this year if demand does not increase.
Spokeswoman Jennifer Moore says Ford sold a natural gas version of the E-Series earlier this decade as a niche vehicle. She says the 5.4-liter V-8 engine available on the van can be converted to run on the fuel.