Ford has announced it'll hire 5,000 new employees in the U.S. by next year as the automaker is set to launch a number of new vehicles next year.

The new jobs will include hourly and salaried positions are in addition to 14,000 jobs added since 2011.

"We will create more jobs in 2014 than have since 2000," said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president of the Americas, according to The Detroit Free Press.

Ford is preparing to launch 23 new vehicles globally, including 16 in North America, like the new F-150, Transit, and Mustang.

Lincoln is also expanding its lineup of vehicles with the introduction of its new MKC crossover.

"2014 will be our biggest year for product launches in our 111-year history," Hinrichs said. "We keep investing in product."

Approximately 1,000 of the new jobs will be added to Ford's Kansas City plant, where the automaker has spent $1.1 billion in improvements to handle production for its new Transit vehicle.

Ford will also open three new production plants in 2014 as well. Two of the plants will be located in Asia Pacific and one will be found in South America, according to The Detroit Free Press.

Hinrichs made the announcement at an event to introduce Ford's new research vehicle that is testing driverless technology. The vehicle has been designed with four sensors that can track moving objects, according to the Associated Press.

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