Ford Motor Company is set to reassign approximately 400 workers from its Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan, as Bronco SUV sales experience a notable decline. These employees will be relocated to other nearby facilities, including the Dearborn Engine Plant and the Monroe Parts Depot, starting in the first quarter of 2025.
Balancing Production with Demand –
The move comes as sales for the Bronco SUV have dipped by 10% through October 2024. While this drop has raised concerns, Ford spokesperson Lars Weborg pointed out that Bronco sales have shown improvement in recent months.
“We are encouraged by the momentum heading into the end of the year, which, along with this production adjustment, should further balance inventory of model year ’24 vehicles as we head into the launch of model year ’25,” Weborg shared via email.
The Michigan Assembly Plant, which also produces the Ranger midsize pickup truck, added a third production crew earlier this year. Despite the reassignment of 400 workers, the plant will maintain its three-crew operation pattern.
Preparing for Changeover –
Ford plans to halt operations at the Michigan Assembly Plant for the first two weeks of January 2025 to facilitate the transition to the 2025 model year. This downtime will be used to prepare production lines for the new model year vehicles, ensuring a smooth rollout.
Broader Production Adjustments –
This decision aligns with Ford’s ongoing efforts to adapt production to shifting market demands. In another recent move, the automaker announced it would idle its F-150 Lightning electric truck plant in Dearborn through the end of 2024, citing slower-than-expected EV demand.
Internationally, Ford is also making workforce adjustments, including a 14% reduction in its European workforce. This is because electric vehicle adoption in regions like Germany has slowed following the discontinuation of EV subsidies at the end of 2023.
