Ford To Idle Production At Five North American Plants

Ford will idle production at five of its North American factories in order to reduce inventories for a number of models.

In a statement issued to Reuters, the carmaker said the facility in Cuautitlan, Mexico will be idled for three weeks to cut down on Ford Fiesta inventories. Elsewhere, the Hermosillo, Mexico plant responsible for the Fusion and Lincoln MKZ will be idled for two weeks alongside the Flat Rock, Michigan factory that builds the Lincoln Continental and Ford Mustang.

Meanwhile, the Focus’ Michigan Assembly plant will be idled for a week while the Ford Transit factory in Kansas City will shut down for two weeks.

Ford hasn’t given exact dates on when these shutdowns will occur nor how many employees will be temporarily laid off.

It is reported that at the start of September, Ford Mustang supplies had ballooned to 111 days. Additionally, there was an 87-day supply of Fusions and 103 days’ worth of Transit vans sitting on dealership lots. What’s more, Lincoln Continental inventories have burgeoned to 162 days.