COVID-19 has had a major impact on the automotive industry over the last several months, beginning with a two-month production shutdown for most major automakers. However, Ford has been back at 100 percent in terms of production for some time, but is now facing some difficulties getting parts from suppliers. That most recently delayed deliveries of the 2021 Ford Bronco, but now it’s leading to a temporary shutdown at the Ford Louisville Assembly Plant, too.
“We are pulling ahead a scheduled down week at Louisville Assembly Plant due to a supplier part shortage,” Ford spokeswoman Kelli Felker told WDRB news in an email. “From what we are hearing right now, it’s (only) a week,” said Todd Dunn, president of UAW Local 862. The shutdown is scheduled to begin on January 11th and run through January 17th.
A total of 3,900 workers are employed at the Ford Louisville Assembly Plant, where the Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair are produced. The Ford Kentucky Truck Plant, which is located nearby in Louisville, is not affected by this issue, which pertains to a semiconductor that goes into a brakes control module, Dunn said.
However, Herb Hibbs, the top union official at the Louisville Plant, told WDRB that in addition to COVID-19 based supplier and transportation issues, the winter weather is also slowing down the movement of parts.
“We are like a lot of big manufacturers struggling but have done well making it this long without any major hiccups, Hibbs said. “Our outstanding workforce is staying safe and doing the best they can to social distance. I commend the Ford material team for doing a great job and any means necessary to keep us running and letting us get our great products to our customers.”
We’ll have more on these and other production issues soon, so be sure to subscribe to Ford Authority for the latest Ford-related COVID-19 news and ongoing Ford news coverage.
Comments
I work in the bicycle industry…it’s been the same set of circumstances here as well.
I know they say a new car can roll off the line every 55 seconds or something like that, but in reality, how long does it take with all parts ready, to assemble a vehicle from the beginning of the line to the end of the line?
It takes 50-60mins to complete a new vehicle
To get all the way through a plant, I’ve been told 1-2 days by former GM guys. Not sure how accurate that is but seems reasonable from what I’ve seen in the plants
Toyota is having the same problem in Texas which slow down production by a lot 500 units a day to 190. Covid is Real it’s affecting everything in one way or another
Sorry to hear that news.
My F350 DRW, 4wd crew cab, platinum is scheduled to be built on Monday, 1/25.
I hope it’s not delayed too much as I had it on order since October.
Hopefully Ford is building cars to order ahead of dealer inventory.
One crazy question, can anyone from the UAW or Ford management/Engineers take any photo’s of this truck as it comes down the line????
I work at a Ford dealership and I’ve never seen or heard of pics being taken at the plant. I like to get pics of my customers vehicles on the transport truck which I email to them with the announcement that it has arrived. It’s a winner every time!!
Been retired a long time, but the cycle from starting a vehicle in the body shop to final assembly completion used to be around 22 hours.
Bernie: Thanks for the info. I was always curious about that.
I’ve had an F-350 DRW Platinum on order through Florence Motor Sales out of Florence, WI since late October.
I need this vehicle very badly as we go racing on March 12th and the estimated delivery is March 8th.
I’m not sure if anyone in Ford Logistics reads this and I’m not sure if anyone can do anything about it anyway. The dealer says he cannot. So….if anyone has an inside track, please try and help me out as I would like to have some miles on this truck before I hook it up to my trailer.