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.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
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