The shortage of semiconductors is forcing Detroit’s automakers to trim production, including production of pickup trucks that are increasingly short supply, in the mid-April.
Ford Motor Co. has already gone through a series of forced shutdowns due to the ongoing shortage. The company said this week it is closing the Dearborn Truck Plant, one of the company’s flagship facilities. It will be down the weeks of April 5 and April 12. In addition, the company cancelled super shifts — the company’s term for overtime shifts — the weeks of April 26, May 10, May 31 and June 21.
At the Kansas City Assembly Plant, the company is shutting down the truck side only the week of April 5. It cancelled super shifts at KCAP Truck side the weeks of April 12, April 19, April 26, May 3, May 10, May 17, June 7 and June 14. The Transit side is canceling super shifts for the weeks of April 5, April 12 and April 19.
Ford hit hard by shortage
The Louisville Assembly Plant, which builds utility vehicles, will be down the weeks of April 12 and 19.
Ford also said two other plants, Chicago Assembly, where the company builds the Ford Explorer, is canceling a super shift for the week of April 5, while the Ohio Assembly Plant, near Cleveland, where the company builds heavy-duty pickup truck is canceling super shifts for the weeks of April 12 and April 26.
In Canada, Ford’s Oakville Assembly Complex in Oakville, Ontario, where the Ford Edge is built, will be down the weeks of April 12, April 19 and April 26 due to the shortage of semiconductors.
Stellantis forced to shutdown
Stellantis said its North American operations continue to work closely with its suppliers to mitigate the manufacturing impacts caused by the various supply chain issues facing our industry as It announced another round of temporary plant.
The Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois, the Warren Truck plant in suburban Detroit, Toluca Assembly Plant in Mexico, and Canadian plants in Brampton and Windsor, Ontario, will be shut through the middle of middle of April, Stellantis said in a statement.
General Motors truck plants carry on
The company says it’s doing all it can to continue building full-size pickup trucks. However, the GM said the Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas City, Kansas, where the Chevrolet Malibu and Cadillac XT4 and the CAMI assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, where GM Builds the Chevrolet Equinox will be shut through mid-April.
“We continue to work closely with our supply base to find solutions for our suppliers’ semiconductor requirements and to mitigate impact on GM,” the company said in a statement e-mailed to TheDetroitBureau.com. “Our intent is to make up as much production lost at these plants as possible.”
Automakers are either facing or about to face some tough times when it comes to sales, which were very strong in March, according to at least one analyst.
“On a SAAR level, March auto sales are shaping up to meet or exceed Pre-Covid levels. The big rebound from the prior month was assisted by stimulus and pent-up demand from weather impacts in February. However, the stronger sales results are bumping against ongoing production issues, creating what could be a volatile demand environment over the next few months,” Chris Hopson, manager, North American light vehicle forecast, IHS Markit.