Posted on 10/14/2025 9:44:08 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
Weeks after a devastating factory fire, Ford will stop building some of its most profitable, American-made SUVs.
The automaker is halting production of the three-row Expedition and the luxury Lincoln Navigator, two of its biggest cash cows, for a week.
The pause will next week likely extend to the Super Duty range of workhorse pickups next week. All three are built at Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant.
Ford's manufacturing issues stem from a September 16 three-alarm blaze at a Novelis aluminum plant in Oswego, New York.
Novelis, the world's largest recycler of aluminum and supplier of 40 percent of the metal used by American automakers, reported no injuries. Firefighters fought the blaze from ladders because the roof risked collapse.
The company said the damaged plant won't be able to make car-grade aluminum again until March or April 2026.
Analysts predict that Ford, Novelis' largest customer, could take a $1billion hit as it sources replacement US-made aluminum.
Investors and car buyers are closely watching any impact on F-150 production. The American-made truck has been the country’s best-selling vehicle for more than 40 years and generates a large portion of Ford’s profits.
Ford, America's most iconic car company, is halting production of at least three cars this week. Overall, a fire at one of its supplier's factories could stop assembly lines making five popular vehicles
A shortage could also affect consumers, leading to limited availability and higher prices.
Last week, the company paused production of its electric F-150 Lightning because of the aluminum shortage.
Novelis typically produces 350,000 metric tons of sheet aluminum across its six facilities in the US.
Ford's stock lost 1.5 percent in early morning trading on Tuesday after the report. Shares are down over five percent in the past five days.
The fire comes as American carmakers are...
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
If they are ‘popular’ why are they cutting production?...............
Go woke; go broke.
Riiiight..................
Their primary aluminum supplier has been shut down by a fire.
FTFA: "Ford's manufacturing issues stem from a September 16 three-alarm blaze at a Novelis aluminum plant in Oswego, New York."
Because a fire at an aluminum supplier is causing a materials shortage......you’d think they’d have a plan B.
Lincoln was having problems with new production Aviators this year. Several recalls resulting in new cars on the lots having to sit because they could not be delivered to customers until recall fixes were made. This went on for a few months.
If Henry Ford were alive today he would have heads rolling over this................
“Go woke; go broke.”
What the hells that supposed to mean? Did you not bother to even read the first 5 paragraphs?
Forget alternative sources. Forget any contingency planning. As long as the current stockholders get the best price this quarter, all is good.
Thanks for your insightful comment. A Comment which proves you have no idea what you’re talking about.
Reading the article is sacrilege here; especially when it interferes with the need to kneejerk.
Beat me to it. You’re absolutely right.
“especially when it interferes with the need to kneejerk”
-
Lol! Ain’t THAT the truth! 🤣
Gouging your customers has consequences.
Ford has shot itself in the foot multiple times in the recent past.
The full on embrace of EV’s burned countless Billions that will never be recovered.
Gouging on prices since the Pandemic has further tanked demand.
THe whole “make more money by selling less vehicles” surrendering market share but jacking up prices on what you sell has been a plan that has screwed all of the Big 3 IMHO.
38k for a BASE F150 is just flat out ludicrous.
A 3 year 36k mile warrantee is a joke. Ford has priced themselves out of the marketplace IMHO.
You need to be pretty rich and pretty foolish to waste your money on a F150 lightning. It’s a total waste of money and there a limited amount of fools who will buy that stuff... After that, the customer base dries up.
They’ve likely maxed out sales of that brand and now thousands of units are sitting around waiting for a buyer... Their traditional F150 gas guzzlers are still flying off the lots.
Outsourcing parts and materials has always been an issue in manufacturing.....while a great idea to keep costs down it’s a problem when it’s allowed to become a “single point failure” as is evidenced here.......ask me how I know. 😁
Bummer. My company F-150 just hit the mileage where I order a new one.
Guess I’ll wait a few months.
J.I.T also known as O.S.W.O - Oh Shucks We're Out...
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