Ford sets schedule for summer shutdown

Ford is knocking a week off the traditional two-week summer shutdown at three SUV plants to handle increased demand.

The company said it will use the extra week of production to make an additional 22,000 SUVs at factories in Louisville, Ky.; Oakville, Ontario; and Chicago. The factories make the Ford Escape, Edge, Flex and Explorer sport utility vehicles and Lincoln counterparts.

Ford’s pickup truck plant in Louisville also will shut down for only a week as it switches to a new Super Duty F-Series truck.

Ford’s Claycomo plant, which builds the F-150 and Transit cargo van, is scheduled to be down for maintenance and retooling the weeks of July 4 and July 11, a company spokesman said Friday.

The Star and news services

This story was originally published June 17, 2016 at 4:22 PM with the headline "Ford sets schedule for summer shutdown."