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Ford Louisville Assembly Plant May Face Temporary Shutdown Over Chip Shortage

There was a time when automakers didn’t rely on OEMs for vital components that we take for granted nowadays. Suppliers are in charge of producing them, and that’s a recipe for plenty of issues.
Ford Escape 20 photos
Photo: Ford
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I’m not referring to substandard parts such as Takata’s airbags, but disruptions in the supply chain. At the present moment, the entire automotive industry is suffering from a global semiconductor shortage that could potentially shutter the Kentucky-based Louisville Assembly Plant.

Opened in 1955 and currently employing 4,100 people, the factory responsible for the Escape and Lincoln Corsair may go silent for two weeks, according to Ford Authority. The Blue Oval hasn’t confirmed this outcome and looking at the bigger picture, the automaker may not want to because that would send investors into a panic, and the stock would obviously drop.

In addition to Louisville, the Saarlouis production complex in Germany won’t assemble a single vehicle until February 19th. Coincidence or not, the Euro-spec Focus produced there features the same platform as the Escape and Corsair. Ford also makes the Bronco Sport on this vehicle architecture in Mexico, but the Hermosillo plant is operating without a single hiccup.

The biggest automaker in Detroit has also been affected by a shortage, but General Motors didn’t confirm if the Corvette factory in Bowling Green will stop making the mid-engine sports car over chips. Whatever the reason may be, Stingray production will be halted in the first week of February.

Turning our attention back to Ford, the Louisville-built Escape for the U.S. market can be yours from $24,885, excluding the destination charge. That price gets you front-wheel drive and a three-cylinder turbo. AWD demands a $1,500 upcharge and the 2.0-liter EcoBoost is available on higher trims.

A plug-in hybrid isn’t available right now because Ford had to recall the Euro-spec Kuga PHEV over battery issues. Alas, the most fuel-efficient Escape available to purchase at the present moment is the SE Sport Hybrid. $28,265 excluding destination charge for 41 miles to the gallon (5.7 liters per 100 kilometers) on the combined cycle isn’t too bad at all, right?
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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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