Ford temporarily closes two plants due to parts shortage from winter storm

Phoebe Wall Howard
 
| Detroit Free Press
Ford Motor takes 2 of 3 vehicle of the year awardsFord’s new electric Mustang Mach-E is the North American Utility Vehicle of the Year, and the company’s F-150 pickup won truck honors from a group of auto journalists. (Jan. 11)APFord confirmed Friday night that two factories in North America would shut down this week because of severe weather disruption.The Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky and the Oakville Assembly Complex in Ontario, Canada, are down the week of Feb. 22 due to weather-related parts delivery issues, confirmed Kelli Felker, Ford global manufacturing and labor communications manager.In Louisville, workers build the Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair.In Oakville, workers build the Ford Edge and Lincoln Nautilus.A United Auto Workers memo from Herb Hibbs, building chairman for UAW Local 862 at the Louisville Assembly Plant, warned that both production and skilled trade workers are affected, and a supervisor would follow up.F-150 back in productionMeanwhile, Kansas City Assembly workers were scheduled to go back on Monday to build F-150s and Transit Vans after being down a week.The company was warned the availability of natural gas could be restricted in the Kansas City area, which is essential for heating homes. Scott Carter, president of Spire Missouri, the St. Louis-based natural gas utility, praised Ford earlier in the week.”We’re constantly monitoring the changing conditions and, while our systems remain strong, we’re proactively working with large natural gas users like Ford to plan for emergencies when there’s not enough supply to meet the energy needs of the larger community,” he said. “The leaders at Ford raised their hand early to offer curtailed usage, in the spirit of doing what’s right for the community.”

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