Employees at two Victorian Ford plants remain off work on Friday while administrators struggle to revive a key parts maker that abruptly stopped production.

Facing increasing challenges overseas, Ford Motor Co. F +2.99% and General Motors Co. GM +1.83% appear headed for slimmer profits this year compared with 2011 although their bottom lines should remain very strong by historical standards.

Ford will invest $760m to build a new plant in eastern China as part of a drive to catch up with global rivals General Motors and Volkswagen in the world’s largest car market.

Ford Motor Co will be slower to build electric-powered pickups and other larger vehicles because the batteries to power them are still extremely costly, Ford CEO Alan Mulally said on Tuesday.

Chevrolet and GMC extended cab heavy-duty pickup trucks with a bi-fuel option will sell for $11,000 above the suggested base-vehicle price. Fleet and retail customers can place orders for the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra 2500 HD beginning Thursday (April 19).

Ford Motor Co.’s China unit will invest about $600 million to increase the capacity of one of its passenger-car factories by almost 60 percent as it looks to expand its operations in the world’s largest auto market.