http://www.wave3.com/Global/story.asp?S=5298158 2 weeks is growing in time now..... (LOUISVILLE) -- Ford Motor Co. plans to idle its two Louisville assembly plants for several weeks as part of a sharp production cutback, Kentucky officials said Friday. Mayor Jerry Abramson said he was told by Ford executives that the Louisville Assembly Plant will be shuttered for six weeks and the Kentucky Truck Plant for five weeks in the fourth quarter. Specific times for the temporary shutdowns were not announced. The plants may shut down for a week or two and resume operation, then shut down again. "Ford officials have stressed to us that these cutbacks in production are aimed specifically at reducing inventory to match declines in current sales," Abramson said. "These are short-term steps," he added. Abramson said the production lull wasn't directly related to "the larger, long-term decisions" being made by Ford about the future of its auto plants across the country. He said that state and local officials want to meet with Ford executives to talk about the Louisville plants. "We will work with our partners at the state to do all we can to keep Ford -- and Ford jobs -- in Kentucky," Abramson said. "We've laid out all the state and local economic incentive programs available to Ford so that they can continue in our community and so they can operate and reinvest in the future," Abramson said. "And the future is really where we're looking." Company officials are expected to release details on its future plans on September 14, and Mayor Abramson hopes to meet with Ford before that announcement. In a statement, CEO Bill Ford notes the need to accelerate a North American turnaround, promising details on further actions next month. The company says the impact will be down time at a number of assembly plants in the U.S. and Canada. The statement also said that Ford will be temporarily halting production at plants in Kansas City, Missouri; Norfolk, Virginia; and Dearborn, Michigan. Ford spokeswoman Anne Marie Gattari declined to compare the expected downtime at the Louisville plants to other Ford factories. More on the link......
