Relentless supply chain challenges continue at Ford Motor Co., the Dearborn automaker with major product launches this year amid both a global pandemic and a global parts supply shortage paralyzing the whole auto industry.
Yet again, the company has announced more factory changes to accommodate the lack of access to semiconductor chips that provide the smart technology needed to operate everything from driving safety features and cameras to infotainment systems.
Ford has the all-new Ford F-150, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Ford Bronco Sport and Ford Bronco. The company is under tremendous pressure to fill massive orders as dealers clamor for products.
The ongoing semiconductor shortage that has hampered auto production worldwide has prompted Ford Motor Co. to extend previously-announced downtime at several of its plants in the coming weeks, the company confirmed Wednesday.
The Dearborn automaker s Chicago, Flat Rock and Kansas City assembly plants in Illinois, Michigan and Missouri, respectively, will be down the weeks of May 3 and May 10. During that period, Ford s Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake will produce only Super Duty Chassis cabs and medium-duty trucks, according to a spokeswoman.
The Chicago plant builds the Ford Explorer, Police Interceptor Utility and Lincoln Aviator. Flat Rock builds Mustangs. And Kansas City builds the profit-rich F-150 pickup truck and the Transit commercial van.
As a global semiconductor shortage continues to impact automakers worldwide, Ford Motor Co. has announced more shutdowns at several of its U.S. assembly plants, including its Kentucky Truck Plant.
Company spokeswoman Kelli Felker said a fire at a supplier facility in Japan and severe winter storms in Texas are driving additional changes at Ford, which already has had schedule changes and closures at multiple plants this year.
Two weeks will be added to the previously announced shutdown starting April 12 at the Chicago Assembly Plant, Flat Rock Assembly Plant and Kansas City Assembly Plant. All three will be closed through the week of April 26, according to Felker s statement Wednesday.
Ford Forced to Shut Down Key Plants Due to Chip Shortage
Inventory levels dropping; rental car agencies can t get more vehicles.
Ford is temporarily shutting the Transit line at its Kansas City plant as well as F-150 production.
Ford Motor Co. plans to shut temporarily assembly plants in Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Missouri and Kentucky as it continues to grapple with the semiconductor shortage, which has played havoc with production of vehicles since last fall.
Meanwhile, the industry, which was stymied by temporary closing of the Suez Canal, is now facing the possibility of labor unrest and the sprawling port of Los Angeles where Teamsters and longshoreman began a work stoppage in support of short haul drivers, who are routinely classified as contractors or gig workers want to unionize.
The ongoing global shortage of semiconductors continues to hit the production schedules and bottom lines of automakers, with Ford Motor Co. on Wednesday announcing the extension of down time and new impacts at several of its plants.
The Dearborn automaker confirmed to The Detroit News that it will extend down time at plants in Chicago, Michigan and Missouri, reduce production at an Ohio plant, and schedule down time and cancel overtime shifts at a plant in Kentucky in the coming weeks.
Automakers around the world have been faced with a global shortage of microchips essential components that power the automated and electronic features in modern vehicles for several months.