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Ford Motor Co. F +0.19%  will measure global demand for the redesigned Mustang sports car heading into the second quarter of 2015 to determine whether it adds a third shift to the Michigan plant where it is built, a top executive said Thursday.

The Flat Rock plant has two crews working to build the Mustang and the Fusion sedan. The first 2015 Mustang, fully redesigned this year to be aimed at a global audience, came off the line at the plant Thursday.

The highly anticipated, all-new Ford Mustang rolls off the line today at Flat Rock Assembly Plant, marking production of the sixth-generation pony car. For the first time in its 50-year history, Mustang will be available globally to customers in more than 120 countries around the world.

The addition of a right-hand-drive Mustang to Ford’s global vehicle lineup will allow the iconic pony car to be exported to more than 25 right-hand-drive markets around the world, including the United Kingdom, Australia and South Africa.

Leaders from three manufacturing groups held a news conference, calling on Congress, the White House and trade negotiators to get tough on countries engaged in currency manipulation.

China is their primary target, having tied the value of its dollar to the U.S. dollar instead of allowing it to be determined in foreign exchange markets.

They said U.S. manufacturing may be on a post-recession rebound, but it's being undermined by China's, Vietnam's and a handful of other countries' practice of currency manipulation.

American businesses could be hiring more workers today if we ended unfair trade practices used by some of our trading partners. No matter how competitive companies are in Ohio, they struggle to keep up with foreign competitors that are given an unearned advantage because of currency manipulation.

 Leading manufacturing association presidents came to Cleveland on Wednesday to remind Ohioans that currency manipulation and unfair trade practices continue to hurt American workers, businesses and farmers.

Leading manufacturing association presidents participated in a press conference at the City Club of Cleveland.

They called for U.S. government representatives to strongly address unfair currency policies in ongoing international trade talks with Asian nations.

Former Missouri governor Matt Blunt is president of the American Automotive Policy Council and is among those calling for congressional action to help level the playing field and create jobs here at home.