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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Ford reduces shutdown to meet demand
DETROIT -- Rising car and truck sales have prompted Ford Motor Co. to add a week of production at 13 North American factories, including Essex Engine in Windsor, Ont.
The move, which will see the Windsor plant close for only one week during the summer shutdown period, will allow Ford to produce an extra 40,000 vehicles in North America this year.
Ford said Tuesday it would cut in half the shutdown at six assembly plants and seven engine and parts plants. Normally plants close for two weeks in early July as they switch over to make vehicles for the next model year.
Through April, U.S. auto sales have been running at an annual rate of more than 14 million, up substantially from last year's 12.8 million. Ford sales through the first four months are up five per cent compared to a year ago.
Many analysts are forecasting sales of around 15 million in 2013.
At Ford, most factories have been running at capacity, and the company is adding third shifts at three plants this month to meet higher demand, said Jim Tetreault, vice-president of North American Manufacturing. Among them is the Windsor plant, which employs more than 700 people who make engines for the F-150 pickup.
"Requiring more capacity from our plants is a good problem to have and having the flexibility to add a week of production in our plants goes a long way toward solving it."
Ford shares were down 14 cents, or 1.4 per cent, at US$10.52 in afternoon trading Tuesday in New York. The stock is up from a 52-week low of $9.05 in early October, but down 31 per cent from a high of $15.35 almost a year ago.
-- The Associated Press
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 9, 2012 B7
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In survey, economists says consumers poised to boost spending, offset government cuts
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