(AP) -- President Barack Obama is wrapping up a tour of the nation's Big Three automakers with a visit to a Ford Motor Co. plant in his Chicago hometown. Obama planned to discuss his unpopular decision to bail out the automakers, and explain how it helped save jobs and breathe new life into the industry.
Ford is adding 1,200 jobs at the Chicago plant, which later this year will begin producing a redesigned, energy-efficient 2011 Explorer that Ford hopes to sell in more than 90 countries.
The White House says Obama will also discuss the industry's role in boosting exports. The Export-Import Bank on Thursday was announcing a loan guarantee for Ford that will finance $3.1 billion of export sales.
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