DEARBORN (WWJ) - Ford is looking to restart production at factories that have been idled due to the coronavirus.
The automaker says is aiming to restart production at select plants in North America as early as April 6, bringing key plants back online while the company introduces additional safety measures to protect returning workers.
Ford is first planning to resume one shift production at Hermosillo Assembly Plant in Mexico on April 6. Then 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," Kumar Galhotra, Ford's president of North America, said in a statement.
Ford suspended production at its plants on March 19 under pressure from the United Auto Workers union, which had concerns about members working closely at work stations and possibly spreading the virus.
Union spokesman Brian Rothenberg said Thursday that the UAW is reviewing Ford's announcement "with great concern and caution."
