Ford Mustang Production Hampered by Semiconductor Chip Shortage
The Flat Rock Assembly Plant, which builds the Ford Mustang, will be idle for several weeks moving forward.
Over the last several months, automakers have had trouble securing an adequate supply of semiconductor chips – a critical component used in vehicle infotainment, HVAC, and numerous other systems – which has forced them to temporarily idle plants and cut production. Ford has halted assembly lines at most all of its North American and European plants in recent weeks, and it appears that Ford Mustang production will also be impacted as a result.
FoMoCo had already announced a series of closures at most of its plants but recently extended those closures as the chip shortage rages on with no end in sight. The Chicago, Kansas City, Ohio, and Flat Rock assembly plants were already slated to be down the weeks of April 12 and 19, and now, Ford says that they will also be idle the weeks of May 3 and May 10, except for Ohio, which will produce only medium-duty trucks and Super Duty chassis cab trucks during that time.
Ford’s Chicago Plant produces the Ford Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and Police Interceptor Utility, Kansas City builds the Transit and F-150, and Ohio assembles the E-Series in addition to the models listed above. Meanwhile, the Ford Mustang is the sole product currently produced at the Flat Rock plant. It’s unclear at the moment just how much of an impact these shutdowns will have on Mustang production, but with 2021 models (including the Mach 1) just beginning to roll off the assembly line, dealer inventory figures to take a hit, at the very least.
“Ford’s North American plants continue to be affected by the global semiconductor shortage – along with automakers and other industries around the world,” Ford’s vice president of manufacturing and labor affairs, John Savona, wrote in a memo to employees seen by The Detroit News. “As you build every vehicle you can for our dealers and customers, our teams behind the scenes are working hard to source additional parts.”
Meanwhile, those looking to buy a new vehicle of any kind – including the Mustang – are already seeing inventory thin out on dealer lots. This is leading to fewer incentives, higher average prices, and feeding a used car market that’s been on the rise since the onset of the pandemic last year. And until automakers and suppliers figure out how to achieve balance in the supply chain, this problem only figures to get worse.
Photos: Ford
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