[2cnd chance]

Ford Shuts Mustang Factory for One Week After Sales Plunge 32%

Ford Motor Co. is shutting its Mustang factory in Michigan for a week after the iconic sports car suffered a 32 percent sales decline in the U.S. last month and was outsold by the Chevrolet Camaro for the first time in almost two years.

The second-largest U.S. automaker idled the factory in Flat Rock, south of Detroit, to match production capacity with demand, Kelli Felker, a company spokeswoman, said in an e-mailed statement. The plant, which employs 3,702 workers and makes Mustangs and Lincoln Continentals, will resume production Oct. 17, Felker said. Under the automaker’s labor agreement, workers will be paid during the shutdown.

The idling may be a sign of the growing weakness of the U.S. auto market, which had been a leading driver of economic growth. Automakers’ monthly sales have been coming up short -- though they beat expectations in September -- and many analysts are now predicting the U.S. auto industry won’t match last year’s record of 17.5 million cars and light trucks.

[RenegadeXR]

The dip in Mustang sales and the subsequent minor lead by the Camaro is old news, but is temporarily shutting down a factory like that a common practice? Just kind of curious.

[KenH.]

Did camaro sales spike or did mustang sales just take a dive?

[KMPrenger]

Originally Posted by KenH.

Did camaro sales spike or did mustang sales just take a dive?

As said above, its old news, but Camaro sales increased a good amount likely b/c of all the discounts going on right now. Mustang sales plummeted. I don't expect this to stay this way for long, but I wouldn't expect an increase until next spring/summer.

[c4racer]

Camaro sales must be down too or GM would not be blowing them out at 20% off prices! But given those pricing incentives in Sept. and Oct. I would expect Mustang sales to take a further dump unless they take similar actions on the incentives.

[SS 1LE]

Originally Posted by c4racer

Camaro sales must be down too or GM would not be blowing them out at 20% off prices!

It was only certain leftover 2016's that got the discounts...

[90503]

Originally Posted by 2cnd chance

Ford Shuts Mustang Factory for One Week After Sales Plunge 32%

The plant, which employs 3,702 workers and makes Mustangs and Lincoln Continentals, will resume production Oct. 17, Felker said. Under the automaker’s labor agreement, workers will be paid during the shutdown.

...Thirty seven hundred workers will be paid to not build cars...Now there's a real cost savings!

..If sales and production pick back up, will they have to work one week for no pay?

[Michigan1LTRS]

This may be the end of the Mustang. Better get um while ya can.

[RenegadeXR]

Originally Posted by 90503

...Thirty seven hundred workers will be paid to not build cars...Now there's a real cost savings!

..If sales and production pick back up, will they have to work one week for no pay?

Welcome to the world of unionized labor. In the end, it's cheaper to not produce cars and avoid a surplus that would lead to steeper discounts to move product - vs - just give the workers a paid week off. It's economics of supply and demand.

[90503]

Originally Posted by RenegadeXR

Welcome to the world of unionized labor. In the end, it's cheaper to not produce cars and avoid a surplus that would lead to steeper discounts to move product - vs - just give the workers a paid week off. It's economics of supply and demand.

I'll bet the workers in Mexico can't wait to get in on that deal...

[KenH.]

Originally Posted by 90503

I'll bet the workers in Mexico can't wait to get in on that deal...

Órale

Mexican auto workers union is just a bunch of guys with guns that will pistol whip you if you slack off.

[Thor142]

Originally Posted by 90503

...Thirty seven hundred workers will be paid to not build cars...Now there's a real cost savings!

....and people wonder why production gets moved offshore.....

[DGthe3]

There is already a thread for this in General Automotive (that had to be moved).

Topic closed.

Remember folks:

if its about the Mustang IT DOES NOT BELONG IN 6TH GEN GENERAL