The Ford Motor Co. in a major reversal has reversed a plan to reopen its assembly plants beginning April 6 with the Hermosillo site, followed by other major sites. The automaker will be building 50,000 ventilators to help the COVID-19 crisis.
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Following reports over the weekend – including a story that appeared in Torque News – that Ford planned to resume production April 6, the automaker has walked back that sentiment. My Torque News story urged Ford to keep its lines shut longer discussed this.
Ford Plans Called For Hermosillo First
Ford planning had called for the automaker to restart its Hermosillo Assembly, Mexico, plant on April 6. The startup of several U.S. plants had been planned a week later on April 14. Now all plans are on hold. Jimmy Dinsmore wrote a lengthy story on Ford's startup planning.
“The health and safety of our workforce, dealers, customers, partners, and communities remains our highest priority,” Kumar Galhotra, Ford president, North America, said in a statement Tuesday.
“We are working very closely with union leaders – especially at the UAW (United Auto Workers) – to develop additional health and safety procedures aimed at helping keep our workforce safe and healthy,” Galhotra continued.
Meantime, in a significant coronavirus development, Ford’s Rawsonville Components Plant will restart the week of April 20 to produce the Model A-E ventilator in collaboration with GE Healthcare, supported by paid volunteer UAW workers.
Ford Workers To Build 50,000 Ventilators
The Model A-E is a basic, cost-efficient design that addresses the needs of most COVID-19 patients. Production will quickly scale up to produce 50,000 units by July 4, helping to meet the growing demand in the U.S.
About 500 paid volunteer UAW workers will be building the ventilators. Ventilator production will be the focus at the Rawsonville facility.
“Today’s decision by Ford is the right decision for our members, their families, and our nation,” Rory Gamble, UAW president, said.
“Under [UAW] Vice President Gerald Kariem, the UAW Ford Department continues to work closely with our local unions and Ford to make sure that as we return to production, all members are safe, and our communities are protected from this spreading pandemic.”
Ford Workstations To Be Appropriately Spaced
As the Rawsonville Components Plant begins to produce ventilators, the workforce will notice added measures in place. Workers will have to self-certify online every day that they are not experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms.
If they are, they will not be allowed to work. New workstation rules place them six feet apart to maintain proper social distancing. Shifts will be separated, so there is no contact between workers on different shifts.
Ford and the UAW are also working on several high-tech solutions to help keep our workforce safe. As developments unfold, we will share the details.
Marc Stern has been an auto writer since 1971. It was a position that filled two boyhood dreams: One was that I would write, and two that I write about cars. When I took over as my newspaper's auto editor, I began a 32-year career as an automotive columnist. There isn't much on four wheels that I haven't driven or reviewed. My work has appeared in Popular Mechanics, Mechanix Illustrated, AutoWeek, SuperStock, Trailer Life, Old Cars Weekly, Special Interest Autos, and others. Today, I am the Ford F150 reporter for Torque News. I write how-to and help columns for online sites such as Fixya.com and others. You can follow me on Twitter or Facebook. Most of Marc's stories can be found at Torque News Ford coverage. Check back again and search for Torque News Ford F-150 news for more F-150 truck news coverage.
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