Ford idles truck and SUV plants

Following the lead from General Motors, Ford today has ceased production at their F150 Dearborn, Mi factory(the famous Rouge factory) along with the Louisville, Ky factory that produces the Explorer. It is unclear as to how long the factories will remain closed.

Sales of both models have continued to fall this year. F150 sales are 12.4% below 2006 figures. The Explorer is at 23.5% vs. 2006. The closings give ford a combine 10,450 units per week lost for the F150 and Explorer.

Ford exec Mark Fields said in a related article in the Detroit News that the Ford Motor Company is expecting a rough 2008 as car sales in the U.S. continue to decline. Fields asked and answered his own question, saying, "Do I think it's going to be Armageddon? No." He continued by saying that Ford will take the coming year on a month-to-month basis in order to "manage the business appropriately."

Source: Automotive News, Detroit News.

By: Austin On 12:22

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Spy Shots: 2009 Ford F150

Here's some new spy shots of the 2009 Ford F150. Nothing yet from Ford on what the specs will be but this is going to be what the truck will look like due to its last of masking. KGP photography recently spotted this F150 out in the desert. More than likely the truck was out there from some brochure photography.

The styling is very crisp with it's new bolder grille, following the same lines of the F250s. New doors, mirrors, head and tail lights. Looks very very good. Surely the new truck will make its official debut at the Detroit Show in January. So

we should have more information then.

Source: KGP Photography, autoblog.com

By: Austin On 13:06

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