Ford has announced that it will not be adding a third shift to its crossover plant in Oakville, Ontario. The Michigan automaker announced last April that it would be brining a third shift to the Oakville Assembly Plant near Toronto to coincide with the production start of the all-new Flex, but insufficient demand has forced Ford to rethink its plans.
350 workers were scheduled to start Monday at the Oakville plant – which produces the Ford Flex , Edge and Lincoln MKX — but are now being told via phone that their start date has been postponed indefinitely. According to the Courier Journal, several of the new workers quit jobs and uprooted their families to start a new career with Ford of Canada, but now find themselves jobless.
“The delay is certainly regrettable,†Ford spokeswoman Lauren More said. “We recognize it affects the lives of hundreds of people. As difficult as the decision is, it’s the only way to do it, to adjust production with demand.â€
Ford originally planned to sell 100,000 units of the Flex annually, but tough market conditions might make that target difficult to achieve. Through the first six months of the year, Ford has seen less than a 3 percent increase in the sale of crossover vehicles.
