08-22-2006, 08:06 AM
Ford Plans Steep Production Cuts
The Daily Auto Insider
Monday, August 21, 2006
August 2006
Ford announced an ââ¬Åaggressive reduction of North American production,ââ¬Â in a news release.
The company said it is reducing North American fourth-quarter production by 21 percent ââ¬â or 168,000 units ââ¬â compared with the fourth quarter a year ago. The revised plan also reduces the company's previously announced third-quarter plan by 20,000 units.
Bill Ford, the company's chairman and CEO, outlined the decision to cut production in a note to employees, explaining the decision is part of broader efforts to accelerate the company's North American turnaround and saying full details of additional actions will be announced in September.
"We know this decision will have a dramatic impact on our employees, as well as our suppliers," Bill Ford told employees. "This is, however, the right call for our customers, our dealers and our long-term future."
For full-year 2006, Ford now plans to produce 3.048 million vehicles at its North American assembly plants ââ¬â 1.134 million cars and 1.914 million trucks ââ¬â a 9 percent reduction from 2005.
The revised production plan is expected to sharply reduce the supply of several models and reduce pressure on sales incentives and dealer inventory carrying costs. The plan also reflects expectations for lower industry sales of light trucks and truck-based sport-utility vehicles, as high gasoline prices are expected to continue to encourage demand for more fuel-efficient passenger cars and crossovers.
Mark Fields, executive vice president and Ford's president of The Americas, said the "tough but important" reduction in production plans underscores the seriousness with which the company is approaching its North American turnaround.
The new production plan will result in downtime at several assembly plants between now and the end of the year, including: St. Thomas, Ontario (Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis); Chicago (Ford Five Hundred and Freestyle and Mercury Montego); Wixom, Mich. (Lincoln Town Car); Louisville, Ky. (Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer); Michigan Truck in Wayne, Mich. (Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator); Twin Cities, Minn. (Ford Ranger); and all F-Series truck plants (Kansas City, Mo.; Norfolk, Va.; Dearborn and Kentucky Truck in Louisville).
The following plants are expected to operate on straight time or overtime based on consumer demand: Hermosillo, Mexico (Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKZ); AutoAlliance International in Flat Rock, Mich. (Ford Mustang); Oakville, Ontario (Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX and Ford Freestar); Wayne, Mich. (Ford Focus); Kansas City, Mo. (Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner); Ohio Assembly in Avon Lake, Ohio (Ford Econoline); and Atlanta (Ford Taurus).
The Daily Auto Insider
Monday, August 21, 2006
August 2006
Ford announced an ââ¬Åaggressive reduction of North American production,ââ¬Â in a news release.
The company said it is reducing North American fourth-quarter production by 21 percent ââ¬â or 168,000 units ââ¬â compared with the fourth quarter a year ago. The revised plan also reduces the company's previously announced third-quarter plan by 20,000 units.
Bill Ford, the company's chairman and CEO, outlined the decision to cut production in a note to employees, explaining the decision is part of broader efforts to accelerate the company's North American turnaround and saying full details of additional actions will be announced in September.
"We know this decision will have a dramatic impact on our employees, as well as our suppliers," Bill Ford told employees. "This is, however, the right call for our customers, our dealers and our long-term future."
For full-year 2006, Ford now plans to produce 3.048 million vehicles at its North American assembly plants ââ¬â 1.134 million cars and 1.914 million trucks ââ¬â a 9 percent reduction from 2005.
The revised production plan is expected to sharply reduce the supply of several models and reduce pressure on sales incentives and dealer inventory carrying costs. The plan also reflects expectations for lower industry sales of light trucks and truck-based sport-utility vehicles, as high gasoline prices are expected to continue to encourage demand for more fuel-efficient passenger cars and crossovers.
Mark Fields, executive vice president and Ford's president of The Americas, said the "tough but important" reduction in production plans underscores the seriousness with which the company is approaching its North American turnaround.
The new production plan will result in downtime at several assembly plants between now and the end of the year, including: St. Thomas, Ontario (Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis); Chicago (Ford Five Hundred and Freestyle and Mercury Montego); Wixom, Mich. (Lincoln Town Car); Louisville, Ky. (Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer); Michigan Truck in Wayne, Mich. (Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator); Twin Cities, Minn. (Ford Ranger); and all F-Series truck plants (Kansas City, Mo.; Norfolk, Va.; Dearborn and Kentucky Truck in Louisville).
The following plants are expected to operate on straight time or overtime based on consumer demand: Hermosillo, Mexico (Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKZ); AutoAlliance International in Flat Rock, Mich. (Ford Mustang); Oakville, Ontario (Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX and Ford Freestar); Wayne, Mich. (Ford Focus); Kansas City, Mo. (Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner); Ohio Assembly in Avon Lake, Ohio (Ford Econoline); and Atlanta (Ford Taurus).
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