Ford lays off 900 workers at Mustang/Mazda6 plant
02-16-2010, 08:22 PM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: City of Champions, MA, USA
Posts: 1,214
Ford lays off 900 workers at Mustang/Mazda6 plant
http://www.newser.com/article/d9dtel...ang-plant.html
Ford will reduce shifts from two to one in July at the AutoAlliance International plant in Flat Rock, Michigan. The plant, which is jointly owned with Mazda Motor Corp., also makes the Mazda6 midsize sedan.
The plant employs nearly 2,300 people. Most of the layoffs will be hourly manufacturing workers, but some salaried staff also will be cut, Ford spokeswoman Marcey Evans said.
Evans said there was significant down time at the plant last year and Ford can get the volume it needs from one shift. Mustang sales fell 27 percent last year, in part because of competition from the Camaro, which went on sale in the spring and came within 5,000 cars of outselling the Mustang. The Camaro hasn't outsold the Mustang since 1985. Mazda6 sales were down 34 percent.
Evans says a majority of the workers will be offered positions at other plants. Ford said last month it will hire 1,200 workers at its Chicago Assembly Plant to build the new Ford Explorer. Explorer production will start at the end of this year. Ford also recently announced a plan to create 1,000 jobs in Michigan to make electric car batteries. Evans said the company also needs workers at the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan, which is scheduled to begin producing the new Ford Focus later this year.
Ford currently has around 600 workers on indefinite layoff in the U.S. Those workers and the ones to be laid off at Flat Rock will have the first opportunity to take jobs at facilities that are hiring. The company has been trying to thin the ranks of hourly workers, most recently offering buyout packages to all 41,000 U.S. hourly workers in December. Around 1,000 workers took similar buyout offers last year.
The plant employs nearly 2,300 people. Most of the layoffs will be hourly manufacturing workers, but some salaried staff also will be cut, Ford spokeswoman Marcey Evans said.
Evans said there was significant down time at the plant last year and Ford can get the volume it needs from one shift. Mustang sales fell 27 percent last year, in part because of competition from the Camaro, which went on sale in the spring and came within 5,000 cars of outselling the Mustang. The Camaro hasn't outsold the Mustang since 1985. Mazda6 sales were down 34 percent.
Evans says a majority of the workers will be offered positions at other plants. Ford said last month it will hire 1,200 workers at its Chicago Assembly Plant to build the new Ford Explorer. Explorer production will start at the end of this year. Ford also recently announced a plan to create 1,000 jobs in Michigan to make electric car batteries. Evans said the company also needs workers at the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan, which is scheduled to begin producing the new Ford Focus later this year.
Ford currently has around 600 workers on indefinite layoff in the U.S. Those workers and the ones to be laid off at Flat Rock will have the first opportunity to take jobs at facilities that are hiring. The company has been trying to thin the ranks of hourly workers, most recently offering buyout packages to all 41,000 U.S. hourly workers in December. Around 1,000 workers took similar buyout offers last year.
02-16-2010, 09:14 PM
#2
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Payson, AZ USA
Posts: 1,181
Its the Mazda 6 sales disaster, that is the problem.
Plus, there is a bit of a glut of Pony/muscle cars these days.
If anyone needs a new Camaro, my tiny local dealership has 4 (they stock about 20 vehicles total)
Plus, there is a bit of a glut of Pony/muscle cars these days.
If anyone needs a new Camaro, my tiny local dealership has 4 (they stock about 20 vehicles total)
02-16-2010, 09:26 PM
#3
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: City of Champions, MA, USA
Posts: 1,214
Mustang sales fell 27 percent last year, in part because of competition from the Camaro, which went on sale in the spring and came within 5,000 cars of outselling the Mustang.
Last edited by super83Z; 02-16-2010 at 09:28 PM.
02-16-2010, 09:44 PM
#4
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: SoCal
Posts: 3,463
Ford seems to have their workforce well alighned for their needs. But this isn't saying much about Ford's expectations for the once again updated 2011 Mustang thats about to go Job 1. The 2010 MY was one of the worst ever for the Mustang and if they are saying they can meet demand with one line in July then they don't think this MY will be any better.
02-17-2010, 12:55 AM
#5
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Coppell, Texas
Posts: 1,215
Yeah, I notice those too. I still like what she brings to the board though. Just play devils advocate and keep the pom poms down. Not everyone on here hates Ford. You're amongst friends.
02-17-2010, 06:08 AM
#6
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 1998
Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 3,252
Mustang needs a major update pretty quick - especially with the new competition (primarily from Camaro). The 5.0 has gotten me interested in it again (first time I've given serious thought to a Mustang GT in a very, very long time), but I don't think the new V8 nor the 3.7 V6 will lure too many potential Camaro/Challenger buyers over to Ford.
Could easily be wrong, but that's my sense.
Could easily be wrong, but that's my sense.
02-17-2010, 07:24 AM
#7
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Toronto, ON Canada
Posts: 2,402
They really messed it up. When the first 6 came out in 2003, it was a gorgeous car, especially the GT model with ground effects. It had very good proportions, and had style (unlike the Accord and the Camry). It wasn't the fastest of the 3, nor was it the most fuel efficient, but it certainly made its impact.
Fast forward to current-gen 6... and while it has an impressive interior, the exterior styling is just... well, sort of weird and amiss.
The front treatment (borrowed from RX-8) doesn't go with the rest of the car, and the greenhouse is narrowed way too much at the top. Just looking at the car from the front or the rear, and the narrow greenhouse doesn't match the wider body.
Anyway...
Fast forward to current-gen 6... and while it has an impressive interior, the exterior styling is just... well, sort of weird and amiss.
The front treatment (borrowed from RX-8) doesn't go with the rest of the car, and the greenhouse is narrowed way too much at the top. Just looking at the car from the front or the rear, and the narrow greenhouse doesn't match the wider body.
Anyway...
02-17-2010, 07:51 AM
#10
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Confederate States of America
Posts: 1,049
I think the new 5.0 is going to be a big hit. It's actually got me interested in the Mustang again, including the updates on the 2011 GT500. I think a lot of Mustang buyers were holding off because they new this motor was coming down the pipeline. The new 5.0 on paper looks to be a big problem for the Camaro plus a few hundred pounds less weight to push around, over 7k rpm limit and the ability to see out of the car, might have to give it a look.
02-17-2010, 02:56 PM
#11
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Payson, AZ USA
Posts: 1,181
On another board, we were discussing the glut of 2-door sporty coupes, on the market. It is not a large market, and it now has 3 players. Plus, when the economy isn't great, impractical cars do not sell as well. Of course the Camaro, due to a 7 year absence, would buck the trend............ as it should.
I pointed out the 4 Camaro's as an illustration of the increased stock of these cars also. We all know that the 2010 Mustang hasn't sold particularly well, thus, that is not news.
Why, is a bigger discussion than soundbites such as "everyone is buying a Camaro," and "I don't think the styling is all that good." I worry about the segment as a whole, due to the economy, which is pretty stagnant, high unemployment, and their impracticality............. that is all.
As for the Mazda 6, Ford probably wanted to cut to 1 shift earlier, but thought that sales of the new 6 would keep 2 lines profitable. It is logical to expect the newly redesigned car to do well. However, while not ugly, it is not as nice looking as it originally was................ and frankly, I don't know if anyone but Mazda fans know about it. I can't remember the last ad I saw for one, be it on TV or internet, or in print. Mazda is pushing 3's REAL hard, however.
Unlike others, while I do expect the new engines will help the Mustang, I don't expect a large increase in sales, due to the reasons I pointed out above.
I should have explained things better in my original post, but was extremely tired. Note to self, do not post when you can barely hold your head up.
I pointed out the 4 Camaro's as an illustration of the increased stock of these cars also. We all know that the 2010 Mustang hasn't sold particularly well, thus, that is not news.
Why, is a bigger discussion than soundbites such as "everyone is buying a Camaro," and "I don't think the styling is all that good." I worry about the segment as a whole, due to the economy, which is pretty stagnant, high unemployment, and their impracticality............. that is all.
As for the Mazda 6, Ford probably wanted to cut to 1 shift earlier, but thought that sales of the new 6 would keep 2 lines profitable. It is logical to expect the newly redesigned car to do well. However, while not ugly, it is not as nice looking as it originally was................ and frankly, I don't know if anyone but Mazda fans know about it. I can't remember the last ad I saw for one, be it on TV or internet, or in print. Mazda is pushing 3's REAL hard, however.
Unlike others, while I do expect the new engines will help the Mustang, I don't expect a large increase in sales, due to the reasons I pointed out above.
I should have explained things better in my original post, but was extremely tired. Note to self, do not post when you can barely hold your head up.
02-17-2010, 03:30 PM
#12
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Lexington, KY
Posts: 917
I think the new 5.0 will help the Mustang in some markets...particularly the enthusiast crowd. I'd say that many were holding out for this year's model for that reason alone.
However, I agree with what others have stated...I don't foresee a huge jump in sales.
However, I agree with what others have stated...I don't foresee a huge jump in sales.
02-17-2010, 03:37 PM
#13
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Pewee Valley, KY
Posts: 4,600
Fast forward to current-gen 6... and while it has an impressive interior, the exterior styling is just... well, sort of weird and amiss.
The front treatment (borrowed from RX-8) doesn't go with the rest of the car, and the greenhouse is narrowed way too much at the top. Just looking at the car from the front or the rear, and the narrow greenhouse doesn't match the wider body.
Anyway...
The front treatment (borrowed from RX-8) doesn't go with the rest of the car, and the greenhouse is narrowed way too much at the top. Just looking at the car from the front or the rear, and the narrow greenhouse doesn't match the wider body.
Anyway...
