Ford boosts production (slightly) of F-150, Escape
Two of Ford's vehicles are moving well enough that the automaker is adding production to its plants in Missouri and Michigan. Ford says its F-150 and Ford Escape are looking to earn their highest sales of the year in August, with the F-Series truck line looking good for its first year-on-year sales jump since October 2006 and the Escape knocking on the door of its own sales record. Of course, August sales number are expected to be wildly inflated by the success of the government's Cash for Clunkers program, so Ford is also taking into account the sales rates of these two vehicles before August and only boosting production by a smidge in response.
Thus, 2,800 workers at Ford's Dearborn Truck Plant will go back to full-time work at the end of September, which will raise production of F-150s by 10,000 units through the end of the year. A third shift added to the Kansas City plant in October will raise production of Ford Escapes and Mercury Mariners by 2,400 through year-end. If production details are your cup of tea, you can read all of Ford's good news in the press release after the jump.
[Source: Ford | Image: Scott Olson/Getty]
PRESS RELEASE:
FORD ADDS SHIFTS AT PLANTS IN KANSAS CITY, MICHIGAN TO MEET DEMAND FOR FUEL-EFFICIENT ESCAPE, F-150
* Ford's Dearborn Truck Plant in Dearborn, Mich., will resume as a three-crew operation in September, to meet demand for F-150 pickups in the U.S. and Canada. The move will result in full-time employment for 2,800 employees who had been working on a two-weeks-on and one-week-off rotating basis since April
* Ford is moving to a three-crew operation from a two-shift operating pattern at Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Mo., in October to maximize the plant's efficiency and help to better meet demand for fuel-efficient Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner utilities
* In August, Ford is on track to post its highest monthly F-Series and Escape sales of 2009 following strong sales for both vehicles in July
DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 27, 2009 – Ford Motor Company today announced it is adding third production shifts at its Dearborn Truck Plant and Kansas City Assembly Plant's sport utility line to help meet strong demand for Ford F-150 pickups and Escape utility vehicles.
In August, Ford expects to post its first monthly year-over-year sales increase for F-Series trucks since October 2006, as well as another record-setting sales month for Escape.
"Even with 'Cash for Clunkers' behind us, we expect that demand for our fuel-efficient, high quality new vehicles will remain strong," said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service. "We had a solid July sales month, and we are headed toward an even stronger August. We're being as creative as we can in pushing the system to meet the demand for our products."
To meet demand, the operating pattern changes announced at Dearborn Truck Plant will result in the additional production of approximately 10,000 F-150 pickups this year and full-time employment for 2,800 employees who had been working on a two-weeks-on, one-week-off rotating basis since April. The changes at Dearborn Truck will go into effect in late September.
The addition of a third crew on the SUV line at Kansas City Assembly, when combined with previously announced incremental overtime at the plant that began earlier this month, will deliver approximately 2,400 additional Escapes and Mariners by the end of October. Employment levels at Kansas City Assembly will remain unchanged, as the plant also moves from two shifts to one shift of production on its pickup truck line. The changes there are effective beginning in mid-October.
The production increases of both vehicles were included in the company's previously announced production plan for the third and fourth quarter of this year.
"We continue to work together with the UAW to find solutions in our manufacturing facilities that will make them more efficient and our business more competitive," said Joe Hinrichs, group vice president, Global Manufacturing and Labor Affairs. "The operating pattern changes we are making in these two plants will accomplish both goals, while helping Ford to better meet real customer demand for Ford vehicles."
The Ford Escape and Escape Hybrid, the world's most fuel-efficient utility vehicle, set a July sales record last month of 20,241 units, its third-highest monthly sales performance since its introduction in 2000. The Escape's share of the small utility segment is 16 percent in 2009 through July, an increase of 2.3 points compared to the same period in 2008.
At the same time, the company's F-Series trucks, the best-selling truck for 32 consecutive years, posted its best U.S. monthly sales of 2009 with 36,327 units and total year-to-date share of 34.4 percent – a 1.3 point increase over year-ago levels. Further, F-Series trucks have been the sales leader in Canada for the last three months.
"Customers are taking notice of Ford's fresh new lineup, and they recognize our best-in-class quality, fuel efficiency and smart technology," said Mark Fields, Ford's president of The Americas. "In fact, both internal and external studies show a positive trend in the percentage of consumers with favorable opinions about Ford and our vehicles. When customers decide to pick up a Ford, Lincoln or Mercury for their driveways, we want to be ready for them."
The Escape and F-150 helped Ford record its ninth retail market share gain in 10 months in July. Other highlights in July include:
* Ford Fusion sales totaled 17,610, a July record and up 66 percent versus a year ago, and Mercury Milan sales were up 60 percent. The 2010 model Fusion and Milan and their hybrid versions are the most fuel-efficient mid-size sedans in America.
* Ford Focus sales totaled 21,830, up 44 percent versus a year ago. The Focus is among the most fuel-efficient compact cars in America with an EPA highway rating of 35 mpg.
* Ford Ranger sales totaled 7,695, up 65 percent versus a year ago. The Ranger is the most fuel-efficient compact pickup in America.
* Ford Flex sales totaled 3,631, up 65 percent versus a year ago. The Flex is among the most fuel-efficient mid-size crossover utilities in America.
* Ford's hybrid vehicles (Fusion, Milan, Escape and Mariner) posted combined sales of 5,353, a record for any month and up 323 percent versus a year ago.
More new products are on the way. The first new 2010 Ford Taurus sedans were delivered at the end of July, as well as the first Transit Connects.
This summer, Ford also debuted its EcoBoost engine technology in the Taurus SHO, Lincoln MKS, Ford Flex and all-new Lincoln MKT crossover vehicle. In these vehicles, EcoBoost provides the fuel economy of a six-cylinder engine and the performance of a V-8.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
06VistaBlueGT 5:28PM (8/27/2009)
I'll take 1st crack at asking when Matt's comments will appear and how stupid will they be?
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Durwood 5:30PM (8/27/2009)
AWESOME just AWESOME...Keep it up Ford, you are the bright spot in the auto industry right now and have a lot of people pulling for you. The best products with great quality and great prices to go with it , and if i get fortunate enough to buy a new auto this year it is gonna have a blue oval on it. This coming from a former GM man who now wouldn't be caught driving some pos silverado.
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katatonics 5:45PM (8/27/2009)
Ford is having a good facepalm moment.
Let demand build for F150s. Because 10,000 additional models until the end of the year is about 7,500 too many.
We're learning here, obviously.
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06VistaBlueGT 6:15PM (8/27/2009)
Hey katatonics, obviously, there is a need for more F150s as people are buying them! Do you have a hatred for Ford with that kind of comment?
On a positive note....WAY TO GO FORD!!! As a 12 year Ford salesperson AT THE SAME STORE all those years (I'm only 32, and work at a small town family-run store) this makes work more fun to hear news like this. We are selling wonderfully exciting products that are amazing in quality, craftmanship and are all fun to drive. I can't wait for the next wave of product to hit (Fiesta, new Focus, 5.0L Mustang, 3.7L V6 Mustang in 2011). This is a great thing and a great time to be a Ford salesperson.
Not THAT Matt 8:07PM (8/27/2009)
Say what you want, katatonics, but Ford is THE automaker of the Big Three who is actually doing things right, and has been so for a few years now. The Escape sells incredibly well, and the F-150 has also been doing well.
Try driving by a dealership sometime - maybe it'll help put some sense into you, before you comment ignorantly and retardedly.
Willie 5:48PM (8/27/2009)
Speaking as a shareholder, I always love hearing positive news from the Blue Oval. I swear, Alan Mulally is a true gem and Bill Ford was so smart to step down as CEO and put this guy in the driver seat (I wish Rick Wagoner would have realized the same). I agree with everything that "Durwood" just said. I hope around the end of 2010 to be purchasing my first new car and Ford has already got (Earned) my business. I can't wait for the 2011 Edge to be revealed. After the new Fusion, Mustang, and Taurus, I can only imagine how nice the Edge will be.
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Willie 5:51PM (8/27/2009)
Oh yeah I forgot...more jobs were saved and created. I know C4C had cons but the pros surely exceeded those.
Come on Ford...GO FOR GOLD!
ken 5:50PM (8/27/2009)
nice photo. looks like there's a chevy bowtie on that grill.
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Purpleslyrpee 6:22PM (8/27/2009)
While there were a lot of people who hated C4C I gotta admit that it did have some positive outcomes, such as this, hopefully the trend continues and with the blue ovals new and improved lineup we might not need a C4C for boost In production numbers just the quality will be enough to bring in new customers
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rjlahart 9:07PM (8/27/2009)
I'll also add my two cents to the go Ford Go!
F150 drastically improved, Got a Raptor today and it sold 180 minutes after touching the ground.
Escape? Have none.
Focus? Have 1 2010.
Fusion bustin' bugs at a regular rate.
Taurus? Dream car and appealing to middle agers.
Edge. Dead.
Flex? One a month.
Explorer. Dead.
Expedition. Nothing happening.
Ranger. Luke warm at best.
Sportrac. Put this thing out it's misery.
Anything hybrid, wishful thinking.
Cull the models to those that sell!
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Farmboy 9:25PM (8/27/2009)
Around here, the Ranger sells incredibly well. There was a dealer who had maybe 30 of them, and when the economy tanked, they sold and were replaced with used cars. Now there are maybe 2-3 Rangers there, always changing too.
iijohn88ii 10:59PM (8/27/2009)
Expedition dead.... um, no.
Explorer.... look out for the new in 2011
SportTrack... its dead in 2011... a redesigned crew cab Ranger will replace it
Ranger... is turning midsized to compete with the Tacoma and Frontier (& its Suzuki brother)
Edge.... dead? seriously? I see these ALL over the place in the DFW metroplex
Escape... tell me one of the C4C top 10 sellers... bet you'll see this name...
Flex... there fine. The upcoming EcoBoost will give it what it needs. But do drop the price tag a little...
Except for the Taurus X, this Ford lineup is terrific, and with several of their models getting revamped and redesigned in the next few years (Focus, Explorer, F-250+, Ranger, Escape), what has just recently been vamped (Fusion, F-150, Taurus) and then you got the Fiesta coming, the EcoBoost engines coming, the in-house Scorpion diesel engines coming, and the F-150 Raptor.... the SHO is FINALLY back!
Ford is coming back and coming back STRONG. This is the auto company to keep an eye on for the next few years!!
For fan for life!
1986 F-150
1993 Corolla
2003 Explorer
2006 F-150
Yzeron 1:50PM (8/28/2009)
I can't even describe how proud I am to be a Ford enthusiast right now. Most of my life I have been a Chevrolet fan. The last three Chevrolet vehicles I owned were absolute crap. A 2000 Chevy Blazer ZR2, fun vehicle but the electrical system completely died while driving on the highway in the rain. Then I got a 2001 Chevy Silverado Z71 and it contantly had transmission issues. Both of them were lemoned. I then bought a left over 2000 Ford F350 7.3L Diesel. I used this truck for farm work and I ended up using it as my daily driver in the end. It was awesome. It was, to this day, the best truck I ever owned. I tried to give Chevrolet one more try with a 2003 Silverado SS. What a piece or crap! I had trouble with everything. Engine, transmission, electrical, tire belts breaking and more. I had had it! My father offered to buy it off me. He ended up selling it for a diesel F350 lol. I eventually traded the F350 for a 03 Sport Trac because parking on campus was a huge PITA with the F350. I had made to for a few years but wanted something smaller.
Those experiences had cemented my belief in Ford Lincoln Mercury. I later bought an 05 F150 FX4 and just a year ago I traded that for a 2008 Sport Trac Adrenalin. What an awesome ride that Adrenalin is! It's great on fuel for a V8, It's AWD which makes winter driving in upstate NY a snap. It's like nothing else around here.
I’m also proud to say that two and a half years ago I left the RV sales industry to work for a stand alone Lincoln Mercury dealership in my town. Even though I don’t sell the Ford brand new, I can still be passionate about the products I sell. Every year is better than the last!!
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