Detroit Three Cutting Summer Breaks Amid High Truck, SUV Sales

Cameron Aubernon
by Cameron Aubernon

Thanks to high consumer demand for SUVs and light trucks, a number of Detroit Three plants are either shortening their summer breaks or eliminating them altogether.

Automotive News reports Ford cut its summer break in half at four of its plants in Chicago, Louisville, Ky. and Kansas City, Mo., all four back online this week to pump out more F-Series Super Dutys, Navigators and Escapes. Its Dearborn, Mich. plant will shut down for the majority of September in preparation for the upcoming aluminum F-150.

Over at Auburn Hills, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is foregoing summer break at both its Jefferson North and Sterling Heights plants, where the Jeep Grand Cherokee boasted its highest-selling May in 2014, 14 years after its previous best. Overall May 2014 sales for the Italo-American automaker charged up 17 percent, followed by a 9 percent increase last month, all on the back of the Grand Cherokee, Dodge Durango and Chrysler 200.

Finally, General Motors will keep a third of its factories online this month. Though the beleaguered manufacturer kept its list of open factories close to its chest, the publication found four who had not reported any summer shutdowns in Arlington, Texas; Flint, Mich.; and Bowling Green, Ky.

Cameron Aubernon
Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

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 21 comments
  • MOPAR or NO CAR...

    • See 10 previous
    • Superdessucke Superdessucke on Jul 09, 2014

      @automaniak "Chrysler is still heavily dependent on Ram and Grand Cherokee sales. What happened to truck and SUV sales when gasoline prices shot up dramatically about 8-9 years ago?" You got to git while the gitten's good!

  • Golden2husky Golden2husky on Jul 08, 2014

    No surprise on Bowling Green...I waited almost four months from order to car. And like Mom said, some things are truly worth waiting for...

    • NormSV650 NormSV650 on Jul 08, 2014

      Can't wait for your review! The press has gone gaga river the C7.

  • Bill h. Bill h. on Jul 08, 2014

    Son is working extra hours at Sterling Heights, so no surprise there either.

  • VW4motion VW4motion on Jul 08, 2014

    I thought the economy was in the crapper. How could this be, oh how could this be with an increase in truck sales? Or is this just the drive by media making more lies? Boohaahaahaaaaaaa

    • See 4 previous
    • VW4motion VW4motion on Jul 08, 2014

      @DevilsRotary86 Note. It is not easy to get a loan right now. Go try and purchase a home with just good credit. People are at a loss for words because they don't or can't explain how the economy is doing so well. Yes some people do not have jobs. That's called a Democratic society. Eww. Obama is a communist. When did Americans become such little cry babies . AM radio and some right wing news stations have made fortunes whining about Obama. Doom and gloom sells. But not for all of us. Some people buckle down and work.

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