Ford Halts Mustang Production for a Week After Sales Plunge
Ford is idling its Mustang production line for one week to allow for supply to catch up with demand.
In September, the Mustang saw sales fall by 32 percent compared with the month before while overall, Ford has moved 87,258 Mustangs in 2016, a 9.3-percent drop compared to 2015. The Flat Rock, MI plant will resume production on Oct.17. Its 3,702 workers will be paid during the down time.
September is the first month since October 2014 that the Chevy Camaro has outsold the Mustang, though GM’s muscle car is also down year-over-year by 11 percent. In total, 54,525 Camaros have been sold in 2016.
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Ford CEO Mark Fields believes that U.S. auto sales have plateaued and many analysts believe that the auto industry won’t beat last year’s record sales of 17.5 million light cars and trucks.
The Flat Rock plant also builds the new Lincoln Continental and production of the luxury sedan is just ramping up. In September, 775 Continentals were sold.
[Source: Automotive News]
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Stephen covers all of the day-to-day events of the industry as the News Editor at AutoGuide, along with being the AG truck expert. His truck knowledge comes from working long days on the woodlot with pickups and driving straight trucks professionally. When not at his desk, Steve can be found playing his bass or riding his snowmobile or Sea-Doo. Find Stephen on <A title="@Selmer07 on Twitter" href="http://www.twitter.com/selmer07">Twitter</A> and <A title="Stephen on Google+" href="http://plus.google.com/117833131531784822251?rel=author">Google+</A>
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the blame falls squarely on CEO Mark Finkelman Fields. He is lying when he believes US Auto sales have plateaued. Let me repeat that: He is not mistaken, he is LYING when he "believes" US Auto Sales have plateaued. A real leader would not just dismiss it as out of their hands and totally up to the customer. A real leader is not just handed his position because he ... nevermind. A real leader would DO SOMETHING, if for no other reason than Camaro not suffering the same plunge.
CEO Mark Fields is right about the plateau of the Mustang. You can only make so many per year. I think they over stepped and should have priced according to the market. High demand = higher prices. I think they sold them too cheap. This is why the Camaro has not kept up with Mustang sales. Now production has to slow to sell over stocked cars on the lot.