Ford restarts all its operations south of the border, FCA adds shifts

[TheSteelRider]

https://www.freep.com/story/money/c...uring-mexico-build-mustang-mach-e/5309113002/

Ford restarts all its operations south of the border, FCA adds shifts
Jamie L. LaReau, Detroit Free PressPublished 4:21 p.m. ET June 1, 2020 | Updated 5:42 p.m. ET June 1, 2020

Ford knew its decision to build a new plant in Mexico would create a political firestorm on Tuesday, yet it forged ahead anyway. (Photo: Paul Sakuma, AP)

Ford Motor Co. has restarted its plants in Mexico after weeks of shutdown due to the coronavirus, it said Monday.
The automaker offered little detail on exactly when it restarted its four plants in Mexico or how many shifts it would operate, other than to say the restart is gradual.
"The safety of our workforce is our top priority," said Ford spokesman Said Deep, in an email to the Free Press. "Working closely with government, suppliers and union leaders, Ford de México is gradually resuming operations and production under the strictest protocols to keep our employees healthy and safe. We have resumed operations at our four sites."
Mexico's auto industry is working to catch up to the demand by automakers in the United States for supplier parts and in-demand vehicles after falling behind by weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic. Even now, it must restart amid concerns over rising coronavirus deaths and a fragile economy.
Deep said Ford will continue to collaborate with Mexico's government leaders to comply with established health and safety protocols.
Ford is the last of the Detroit Three to restart operations south of the border. There is a lot of interconnection between the Detroit Three and manufacturing in Mexico. The automakers' operations in Mexico build profitable vehicles that are sold in the United States. They also make parts used on cars built at U.S. assembly plants. In some cases, engines that are made at the carmakers' U.S. plants are sent to Mexico for use in vehicle assembly there too.
Here are Ford plants in Mexico:

• Cuautitlan Stamping
• Cuautitlan Assembly: all-electric Mustang Mach-E SUV
• Hermosillo Stamping
• Hermosillo Assembly: Ford Fusion, Lincoln MKZ

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles restarted its operations in Mexico last week and was starting to add second shifts to its Saltillo Truck and Van plants Monday, and FCA spokeswoman said.
On May 25, FCA initiated a gradual restart of its plants in the northern city of Saltillo, where it started with about 40% of its staff. The next day the automaker restarted the Toluca Assembly plant, where FCA builds its Dodge Journey and Fiat Freemont crossovers.
FCA confirmed that it was running one shift. FCA has engine and stamping plants and a pickup and van assembly plant in Saltillo. The plant builds the popular Ram 1500 and Ram Heavy Duty pickups.
More: FCA restarts operations in Mexico, building Jeep Compass
The company, which idled its operations in Mexico in March, has seven facilities south of the border in two cities.
Here are the FCA plants in Mexico:

• Saltillo Engine Plant in Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila
• Saltillo South Engine Plant
• Saltillo Stamping Plant
• Saltillo Truck Assembly Plant: Ram 1500, Ram Heavy Duty Trucks
• Saltillo Van Assembly Plant: Ram ProMaster
• Toluca Assembly Plant: Jeep Compass, Dodge Journey, Fiat Freemont
• Toluca Stamping Plant

General Motors, meanwhile, restarted its three assembly plants and powertrain and stamping plants in Mexico on May 21.

General Motors plant in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. (Photo: Rebecca Blackwell, AP)

GM’s Silao plant in Guanajuato, Mexico, is one of the biggest auto plants in the large Mexican industrial state. The Silao plant is critical for GM because it builds some of the automaker's light-duty pickups. GM also builds full-size pickups at its Flint Assembly plant and Fort Wayne Assembly plant in Indiana.
More: GM to restart its plants in Mexico as soon as Thursday night
Here are GM's plants in Mexico:

• Ramos Arizpe Vehicle Assembly: Chevrolet Blazer, Equinox SUVs
• San Luis Potosi Assembly: Chevrolet Equinox, Trax, GMC Terrain SUVs
• Silao Assembly Plant: Chevrolet Silverado light-duty crew cab, regular cab
• Toluca Engine and casting plant

The Detroit Three restarted their U.S. operations on May 18 with one shift.
GM delayed adding additional shifts at key pickup and SUV plants because of a parts shortage from parts plants in Mexico still being offline. On Monday, GM added second shifts, and in some cases, third shifts to U.S. plants to ramp up production to full capacity.
More: GM to recall most of its hourly workers, restarts Arlington plant
Staff writer Eric D. Lawrence contributed to this report.
Contact Jamie L. LaReau: 313-222-2149 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. Read more on Ford and sign up for our autos newsletter.

 

[JamieGeek]

So they still are building cars at Hermosillo...ok.

 

[abr]

So they still are building cars at Hermosillo...ok.

Hermosillo is going to be producing the Bronco Sport and the Transit Connect. Not sure they are going to continue producing Fusion / MKZ there.

 

[JamieGeek]

Hermosillo is going to be producing the Bronco Sport and the Transit Connect. Not sure they are going to continue producing Fusion / MKZ there.

The Fusion Hybrid and MKZ Hybrid are built in Flat Rock...

 

[ChasingCoral]

The automaker offered little detail on exactly when it restarted its four plants in Mexico or how many shifts it would operate, other than to say the restart is gradual.

From what I've heard from inside the plant, it's a very slow restart so far. No complaints, just a comment. They need to be careful.

 

[Whatstreet]

I know this is quibbling, but shouldn't that flag in the banner be the Mexican flag because the discussion is about a Mexican factory reopening?

 

[Electron_Libre]

It would be cool if electrifying of the car market gave a rebirth of some old american car brands like Mercury or Oldsmobile. Even brands like Chrysler which are not in a very healthy state could get a new start

 

[Whatstreet]

It would be cool if electrifying of the car market gave a rebirth of some old american car brands like Mercury or Oldsmobile. Even brands like Chrysler which are not in a very healthy state could get a new start

I agree that some of the old names would be fun to have back. Not to sure about Mercury as Ford seems to be making Mustang a brand instead. They have their own passions. It's not about the customer really.

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