Ford Motor Co.'s Flat Rock Assembly Plant will shut down for a month this summer to prepare for production of the Fusion midsize car
, the Dearborn automaker confirmed Friday.
Beginning the final week of June, Ford will idle the plant, which currently produces the Mustang during its one-shift operation, to train new workers and finalize current production plans for the Fusion.
The plant normally takes about two weeks off during summer months, a United Auto
Workers official said; that idle time will be expanded this year. The plant will also be idled for a week in early May.
Fusion production at Flat Rock is slated to begin in late August, though that date has fluctuated, union officials have said. That means Fusion cars from Flat Rock would begin arriving at dealerships in late fall.
There is a vocal contingent of American Fusion fans that have already put off buying
the new 2013 Fusion because it is built in Hermosillo, Mexico. Demand for that Fusion, however, has remained at record levels.
Ford sold more than 30,000 Fusions in March — a monthly sales record — and is looking to supplement production at its three-shift Hermosillo plant with an additional shift at Flat Rock.
Though the Mustang line will also shut down for a month, Ford doesn't have plans to ramp up production of the pony car in advance of the idle period; the plant is already producing the maximum number of Mustangs on its eight-hour shift. And demand for the current generation Mustang has waned recently as talk of a new Mustang for 2015 heats up.
The Flat Rock Assembly Plant's 1,700 workers will get most of their pay during the changeover. When a second shift is added, the plant will employ more than 3,000.
, the Dearborn automaker confirmed Friday.Beginning the final week of June, Ford will idle the plant, which currently produces the Mustang during its one-shift operation, to train new workers and finalize current production plans for the Fusion.
The plant normally takes about two weeks off during summer months, a United Auto
Workers official said; that idle time will be expanded this year. The plant will also be idled for a week in early May.Fusion production at Flat Rock is slated to begin in late August, though that date has fluctuated, union officials have said. That means Fusion cars from Flat Rock would begin arriving at dealerships in late fall.
There is a vocal contingent of American Fusion fans that have already put off buying
the new 2013 Fusion because it is built in Hermosillo, Mexico. Demand for that Fusion, however, has remained at record levels.Ford sold more than 30,000 Fusions in March — a monthly sales record — and is looking to supplement production at its three-shift Hermosillo plant with an additional shift at Flat Rock.
Though the Mustang line will also shut down for a month, Ford doesn't have plans to ramp up production of the pony car in advance of the idle period; the plant is already producing the maximum number of Mustangs on its eight-hour shift. And demand for the current generation Mustang has waned recently as talk of a new Mustang for 2015 heats up.
The Flat Rock Assembly Plant's 1,700 workers will get most of their pay during the changeover. When a second shift is added, the plant will employ more than 3,000.
