Ford Cancels SUV Plant Shutdown in Ky.

Ford will be shortening its traditional two-week summer shutdown at its Louiseville Assembly Plant as a result of record sales for the Ford Escape and Lincoln MKC, Ford has announced.

Ford Escape sales numbers totaled 129,805 through May, increasing 3% from the same time period last year. Lincoln MKC sales totaled 11,161 through May, increasing about 10% from last year's numbers.

“This is our strongest ever retail start for Escape, with retail sales up more than 6% versus this time last year,” said Raj Nair, Ford's executive vice president and president of North America.

The Louisville Assembly Plant will be the only plant in North America to shorten its shut down. The plant will be used to build over 8,500 additional vehicles. All other Ford plants will have the traditional two-week shutdown period in the summer.

Van Dyke Transmission, Sterling Axle, Chihuahua Engine, Rawsonville, Chicago Stamping, Michigan Assembly Stamping, and Woodhaven Stamping will take a one-week summer shutdown. Those plants will be closed the week of July 4 for building maintenance and machine retooling.