Ford Motor Co. is adding an additional 200,000 units of annual straight-time capacity this year. Additionally, Ford will produce over 40,000 units by idling select plants for only one week during what is usually the traditional two-week summer shutdown according to a company press release.
The 200,000 annual straight-time capacity additions this year will be completed at Kansas City Assembly Plant, Chicago Assembly Plant, and their Flat Rock Assembly Plant.
Ford will increase production for their best-selling vehicles like the Ford Explorer, Fusion, and F-Series models according to a company press release
"To meet surging customer demand for our top-selling cars, utilities and trucks, we are continuing to run our North American facilities at full manned capacity, and we will add 200,000 units of annual straight-time capacity this year," said Jim Tetreault, vice president of North America Manufacturing.
"Approximately 75 percent of our plants are running at a three-crew, three-shift or four-crew pattern in order to ensure we're getting more of our products into dealerships," said Tetreault.
Approximately 20 plants, including six assembly plants, will take a reduced summer shutdown this year. The assembly plants taking one week of shutdown are Chicago Assembly, Cuautitlan Assembly, Hermosillo Stamping and Assembly, Kentucky Truck, Michigan Assembly and Oakville Assembly.
Other plants planning to take a reduced summer shutdown include: Buffalo Stamping Plant, Dearborn Engine, Dearborn Tool & Die, Lima Engine Plant, and Woodhaven Forging according to Ford.
"We went from four shifts on F-series to six shifts over the space of about a year," said Tetreault according to Reuters. "It's pretty dramatic increase in the demand on the truck side."
Ford shares are up 2.2 percent to $15.28 on the New York Stock Exchange. The stock price rose as high as $15.32, the highest level in about two years according to Reuters.
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