The cash for clunkers program may have ended earlier this week, but Ford announced on Thursday it will be adding shifts at two U.S. truck and SUV plants to meet increased demand. Ford will be adding shifts at its Dearborn F-150 pickup truck plant and Kansas City, Missouri Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner factory.
According to Automotive News, Ford will bump its Dearborn F-150 plant from two shifts to three beginning next month. The third shift will run for the entire month of September, boosting production by 10,000 units this year.
Additionally, Ford will add a third shift at its Kansas City SUV plant in October, resulting in 2,400 more units of the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner by the month’s end.
The Ford Escape was one of the top-sellers in the cash for clunkers program, leaving the popular SUV in short supply.
Overall, Ford will boost production to 495,000 units in the third quarter. Fourth quarter production will jump to 570,000 units, a 33 percent increase over Q4 2008.
