Ford to Idle Wayne Truck Plant

Ford Motor Co. will close its Michigan Truck Plant in Wayne, MI, for nine weeks due to falling sales of the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator fullsize SUVs built at the facility, spokeswoman Angie Kozleski says.

The shutdown, from June 23-Aug. 25, will idle some 1,400 unionized employees at the plant. The laid-off workers will receive about 95% of their pay under the terms of Ford’s labor contract with the United Auto Workers union.

Sales of the two SUVs have fallen dramatically as consumers shift toward smaller vehicles in the wake of rising fuel prices. Through May, Expedition and Navigator deliveries were down 38.0% and 29.0%, respectively, compared with year-ago, Ward’s data shows.

Ford also has cut some agency positions as part of a plan to trim 15% of its salaried workforce by Aug. 15. More than 200 contract workers reportedly left the company June 12 after receiving notification their positions had been eliminated.

Ford spokesman Mark Truby confirms the cuts but declines to reveal the exact number or when the next round of layoffs will occur.