Ford Will Idle Production at Some U.S. Plants in July and August

Ford Motor Company announced yesterday that several of its factories in the United States are going to shut down for a few weeks in July and August, as the global microchip shortage continues to play havoc with automakers’ production schedules.

Back in April, Ford said that the lack of available semiconductors could cost the company $2.5 billion USD this year, and as much as halve vehicle production during the second quarter of 2021. Evidently, the problems are continuing into Q3. And keeping production going when critical components are in short supply is proving a massive challenge for carmakers:

"While we continue to manufacture new vehicles, we're prioritizing completing our customers' vehicles that were assembled without certain parts due to the industry-wide semiconductor shortage.”

- Ford statement

Ford’s Chicago assembly plant is where the Explorer SUV is built, and it will go dark between July 5 and 26. The following week, starting August 2, the plant will run only two shifts.

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