Ford Motor Co. is limiting the production of certain colors of some trucks and other models because the earthquake and tsunami in Japan have disrupted the supply of pigments used in automobile paints, the auto maker told U.S. dealers on Thursday.
Ford, in a memo to its dealers, said its plants will continue producing the vehicles affected, which include the F-150, SuperDuty and Ranger pick up trucks; the Explorer, Expedition and Navigator sport-utility vehicles; the Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS sedans, the Focus compact and Econoline van.
“We have recently been made aware of a supply chain issue that will disrupt the supply of pigments for some of our paints,” Kenneth M. Czubay, Ford’s U.S. sales chief, wrote in the memo, which was reviewed by the Wall Street Journal.
But during the week of April 4, it will produce no F-150s, SuperDutys, Expeditions or Navigators in the color “tuxedo black,” the memo said. The plants affected by the move are the Dearborn truck plant in Michigan, and the Kentucky truck plant in Louisville.
Ford’s Kansas City plant will continue producing trucks in tuxedo black “for the near term,” according to the memo.
Ford spokesman Todd Nissen confirmed the auto maker sent the note Thursday as a precautionary measure concerning metallic paints.
“There is a pigment, called xirallic, that is running low in supply,” Mr. Nissen said. “While we can fill current orders, we have asked dealers not to take new orders for certain types of paints.”
Nissen said the change won’t affect the number of vehicles Ford is able to build, and only affects the colors of vehicles the company is planning to produce.
Ford will also limit production of tuxedo black versions of the Explorer, Taurus and MKS at its Chicago assembly plant. Production of certain red vehicles will able be limited at the Kentucky truck, Michigan assembly, Ohio truck and Twin Cities truck plants, the memo said. The shades of red include “royal red,” “red candy,” and “red fire.”
The Ohio truck makes the Econoline van. The Twin Cities plant makes the Ranger.
This article was painfully choppy and diffiult to read with it’s lack of regard to any proper editing. Why is this so prevelant? No one actually ever reviews these things before posting? Pathetic…
Jay, if you’re going to correct editors, make sure you use the correct “its.” “It’s” is “it is,” not the possessive.
What about “diffiult” — what word is that?? Don’t forget “prevelant”. — And, please don’t use a question mark if it is not a question.
Pathetic…
Tonation can make something a question. In texting and email tonation can be indicated by adding question marks to statements that wouldn’t otherwise be queries. Nice to know the grammar police are out in force today. BTW, the article was painful to read…
Do you mean to tell me the US can’t even make the pigment for these vehicles? Shame Shame on us!
Maybe this is a small wake up call to manufacturers that we need certain capabilities to stay state-side. Not saying pull all orders from current vendors, but mix it up. Make some of your supply chain reliant on state-sid AND international vendors.
In a gloabal environment, business continuity is important….as are jobs here state-side.