Ford Motor Co. is adjusting production of the Bronco SUV at its Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan, and is temporarily reassigning 400 workers to nearby facilities, Ford spokesperson Lars Weborg confirmed in an email to Automotive Dive.
The production adjustments are to further balance inventory of 2024 Bronco models as the plant prepares for the production start of 2025 models early next year, Weborg said. The Michigan Assembly Plant also produces the Ranger pickup.
“We are encouraged by the momentum heading into the end of the year, which, along with this production adjustment, should further balance inventory of model year 24 vehicles as we head into the launch of model year 25,” the company wrote in an emailed statement.
Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant employs about 5,900 workers, according to a company website. The reassignments impact around 6% of the plant’s workforce.
The 400 workers will be offered short-term positions at Ford’s Dearborn Engine Plant and Monroe Packaging Center in Monroe, Michigan. However these reassignment choices are voluntary, Weborg said.
Sales of the full-size Bronco have declined this year. Ford reported sales of 26,796 units in Q3, a 18.5% decline from the same period a year ago. For the first nine months of 2023, Bronco sales are down 15.9% year over year to 76,948 vehicles. In contrast, sales of the Ranger were up 110% YoY in Q3 to 15,504 units.
The production adjustments do not include the smaller Bronco Sport models, which are assembled at Ford’s Hermosillo Stamping and Assembly Plant in Mexico.
Ford also plans a two-week down period in the upcoming weeks to prepare the plant to begin production of new 2025 Bronco models in January, Weborg said.
