Ford (Ford Motor) said on Thursday (18th) that global semiconductor chip shortages and winter storms had affected the supply of other parts in the United States, leading the company to cancel production plans for two plants, Fmuri 150 pickup trucks and Edge SUVs.
Ford's plan is to complete the resumption of production of the Fmuri 150 and Edge models within "weeks" after the shortage of components, including some electronic components with semiconductors, are in place. According to a Ford spokesman, the number of vehicles affected is expected to reach "thousands". She declined to give further details because the chip shortage is still uncertain.
The cancelled production plans include three shifts by Friday at a Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair plant in Kentucky. Ford also confirmed earlier this month that its plant in Germany to make the Carnival (Fiesta), which is no longer sold in the United States, will shut down for a day next week.
Ford's action is the latest impact that the auto industry is facing a global chip shortage. AlixPartners, a consultancy, estimates that chip shortages will cost the global auto industry $60.6 billion in revenue this year. Ford had previously said the chip shortage could reduce its profit this year by $1 billion to $2.5 billion.
General Motors (General Motors), Ford's biggest intra-city competitor, had previously confirmed that it could only reduce its production of pickups in order to keep the plant running amid a shortage of chips. GM expects chip shortages to reduce its free cash flow by $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion in 2021.
