Ford slows down production of pickup trucks and SUVs in the US
22 May 2008
Drop in sales due tor soaring oil prices has forced Ford Motor Company to cut down production of pickup trucks and large sport utility vehicles, the company stated.
A Ford official noted that the company would shut operations of the Michigan Truck plant for five weeks starting in late June. The plant makes sports utility vehicles such as the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator, both of which have seen drop in sales so far this year.
Auto companies in the US usually shut down their plants for two weeks in July for the purpose of reorganising and updating, but these closures will extend the customary shutdowns.
Earlier in March, Ford had announced plans to cut North American production by 10 per cent in the second quarter because of slow US sales, but the production cuts at Michigan Truck and Kentucky Truck would come on top of that.
Currently Ford leads the pickup sales in the US and is looking to boost its sales in the segment through a smaller, more fuel-efficient version of its best-selling F-150 pickup that will likely hit the market in 2011, according to the company.
