Ford Motor Co. has halted production of its top-selling pickup at two of its assembly plants due to a supplier problem, the Detroit Free Press has confirmed.
At Dearborn Truck Plant, the automaker has halted all production of the F-150 through Sept. 30, Mark DePaoli, told the Detroit Free Press on Sept. 25. DePaoli is the UAW Region 1A director and former vice president of UAW Local 600, which represents the hourly workforce at Dearborn Truck Plant.
DePaoli said there about 3,500 to 4,000 workers at Dearborn Truck Plant that have been told to stay home.
Also down Friday is F-150 production at Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Missouri. Ford also builds the Transit van at that factory, said UAW Local 249 Bargaining Chair Jim Fisher.
"We're
not running today. They canceled the A shift," Fisher said of F-150 production, noting Transit production continues as usual. "Right now, they haven't canceled the B shift, which starts at 6 p.m., but they usually give me very late notice. We're literally hour-by-hour on parts."
When asked about the production halts, Ford spokesman Dave Tovar told the Detroit Free Press, "We don't comment on supplier disruptions."
Fisher said since Sept. 1, Ford has canceled 15 shifts of F-150 production at Kansas City Assembly. The plant employs about 8,600 workers, about half of those people work on the F-150.
"Ford has been canceling various shifts due to what they say is 'lack of parts, ' " Fisher said. "I think it’s aluminum, but all I can tell you is we’ve barely worked the last two weeks."
Ford has struggled since late last year with keeping its F-150 production going to meet demand after two fires at its key aluminum supplier, Novelis, created a shortage. Ford uses aluminum in the bodies of many of its vehicles, including its top-selling F-150 pickup. But Ford leaders have assured the market that the company was on course to make up the loss production by year-end.
Fisher said Ford had intended to build some 67,200 model year 2026 F-150s through the end of the year.
The disruption couldn't come at a worse time given that analysts are predicting a dismal third-quarter in U.S. new car sales for the Detroit Three, saying they will lose the most market share in recent history. In fact, the prediction is that Hyundai will outsell Ford in the third quarter. The automakers report sales results next week.
Ford builds its heavy-duty F-250 at Kentucky Truck Plant and Fisher said he is unaware of that production being disrupted.
Jamie L. LaReau is the senior autos writer for USA TODAY Co. who covers Ford Motor Co. for the Detroit Free Press. Contact Jamie at jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. To sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ford halts F-150 production at 2 factories. Here's why
