Ford wants to restart production at major plants in North America as early as April 6 by bringing key plants (truck) back online while the company introduces “additional safety measures” to protect returning workers. Since Michigan is currently running out of hospital beds and testing remains limited to non-existent, this is a high risk strategy that could increase the sickness and death tally of the COVID-19 pandemic. The UAW said: “We are reviewing with great concern and caution today’s announcement. Our priority is the health and safety of our members, their families and the American public.” Take your pick – either the UAW disagrees, or they were unaware of the Ford announcement.
Ford is planning to resume production at Hermosillo Assembly Plant on April 6 on one shift. On April 14, Ford is planning to start building vehicles at Dearborn Truck Plant, Kentucky Truck Plant, Kansas City Assembly Plant’s Transit line and Ohio Assembly Plant.
To support these assembly plants, Ford also is aiming to resume production April 14 at:
- Dearborn Stamping Plant
- Dearborn Diversified Manufacturing Plant
- Integrated stamping plants within Kansas City and Kentucky Truck plants
- Sharonville Transmission Plant
- Portions of Van Dyke Transmission, Lima Engine and Rawsonville Components plants
“We will continue to assess public health conditions as well as supplier readiness and will adjust plans if necessary,” claimed Kumar Galhotra, Ford’s president of North America.
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