It was the automaker's primary factory in that region from 1955 to 1983,[1][2] replacing the Richmond Assembly facility.

Mercury products such as the Mustang-based Cougar, Montego, Comet, Bobcat, Capri and the Lynx were also assembled there.

Ford F-series trucks were produced there, from shortly after the inception of the plant until its closure in 1983.

Personnel and equipment were transferred from Richmond to San Jose starting February 23, 1955.

It was one of the first plants in the nation to which the term "automation" was applied because most of the assembly line was interlinked and did not depend on human control.