Ford Suspending F-Series Production After Supplier Fire, Other Automakers Affected

As we told you yesterday, Ford announced it will temporarily halt production of the F-150 and Super Duty after a fire at Meridian Magnesium Products of America knocked out a key supplier. While the Blue Oval isn’t the only automaker affected by the supply shortage, as General Motors, Fiat Chrysler, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz also report the likelihood of production interruptions, Ford has the most to lose.

Taking the company’s most profitable vehicle out of the mix for a few weeks is a big deal. During a bad month, Ford might sell around 50,000 F-Series trucks in the United States. But a good month can see around 90,000 deliveries, so an unplanned idle probably has the automaker tugging at its collar a little. Fortunately, Ford currently has a 84-day supply of F-series pickups. That doesn’t mean it won’t feel the pinch if the wait on parts takes longer than expected.

The factory shutdown affects F-150 production at the Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant, which Ford said will last until at least May 14th. Super Duty lines at Kentucky Truck and Ohio Assembly have also shut down. Ford’s Dearborn Plant is expected to go down temporarily in the near future.

So, how far have the ripples spread?

According to Bloomberg, the supplier issue could cost the automaker as many as 15,000 F-150s per week. That’s a lot of money. As Ford’s breadwinner, the F-Series is responsible for roughly $40 billion in annual revenue. “The F-Series platform is critically important to Ford,” said Emmanuel Rosner, an analyst with Guggenheim Securities LLC. “We estimate it generates annual profits of at least $12 billion for the company, accounting for much more than the totality of Ford’s global [profits].”

So long as the factory shutdowns don’t last too long, Ford should be okay. Line workers will have to put in some overtime once the lights come back on, but no one’s expecting the trucks to suddenly vanish from dealer lots this summer. However, as there are not an overabundance of suppliers for magnesium parts, automakers could be in for a legitimate wait.

Hoping for a swift solution, Meridian Magnesium claims it is working as quickly as possible to get equipment to its plants in Canada and the United Kingdom. Its Eaton Rapids facility suffered a critical level of damage from the fire. While not totally destroyed, a large portion of the main building has been rendered unusable. Employees were told by a company official last week they should expect layoffs, but a portion of the facility is expected to remain open (plants 4 and 5 were unaffected by the fire). “It is our intention to return to normal operations as quickly as possible,” George Asher, Meridian Magnesium’s plant manager, told his staff. At this point, no one has a sound estimate for how long that may take.

“This is an extremely fluid situation,” said Ford spokeswoman Kelli Felker. “We are working hard to get replacement parts. We’re working closely with the supplier to manage the situation and determine next steps.”

The supply shortage is far reaching, affecting multiple automakers. Automotive News reported that Mercedes-Benz will have to rejigger production at its plant in Vance, Alabama, where it currently builds the C-Class, GLE, and GLS. The automaker said it “cancelled production shifts in certain areas and adjusted production hours for our team members this week. We continue to assess the situation and are working with Meridian to restore normal production levels.”

General Motors reported it would temporarily halt production of its Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana at its Wentzville Assembly plant in Missouri on Wednesday.

BMW claims parts shortages would hinder assembly of the X5, built in South Carolina. But it noted its currently supply has kept operations running for the time being.

As for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, the company said production of the Chrysler Pacifica minivan in Windsor, Ontario, will also be affected by the fire. The automaker reports it will begin “adjusting production schedules as needed to minimize plant downtime,” promising to make up any lost production.

[Image: Ford]