Last week, the primary news coming out of Ford centered on the rollout of the Lightning, the electric version of the automaker’s dominant F-150 pickup.
But about the same time that President Biden was offering feedback on that “sucker’s” capabilities, Ford was also forced to confront the realities of a global semiconductor chip shortage that continues to ravage bounce-back plans throughout the automotive sector.
As a result of a continued lack of chips, Ford announced plans to temporarily close eight factories at varying times during the month of June, and, for some, into July. The closures will result in production cuts for three of Ford’s most iconic vehicles: the F-150, the Bronco Sport SUV and the Mustang.
In a memo initially shared with CNBC, Ford outlined that the Chicago Assembly plant, the Flat Rock Assembly plant in Michigan — the home of the Mustang — and the Hermosillo, Mexico plant, where the new Broncos are assembled, will all be shuttered for two weeks.
The Dearborn Truck and Kansas City Assembly plants, where the F-150 is produced, will see two-week closures and a third week with reduced schedules. The Oakville Assembly plant in Canada and Louisville, Kentucky, plants will be closed for four and six weeks, respectively.
Finally, the Ohio Assembly plant will only be making Super Duty Chassis cabs and medium-duty trucks for three weeks in June.
The facilities charged with producing the electric versions of the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning will not see plant closures, and no production cuts for those vehicles were announced.
Ford had previously estimated that production losses stemming from the chip shortage would cost the automaker upwards of $2.5 billion in 2021.
