Ford Cutting Back on V8 Production at Essex Engine Plant
Photo: Ford Motor Company
Ford Canada is responding to decreased demand for the 5.0-liter V8 option in its F-Series by cutting a shift at its Essex Engine plant in Windsor, Ontario. The reduction from three shifts to two takes place in October, and a Ford spokesman says that the move will not result in the loss of any jobs.
“All employees affected by the shift reduction will have the opportunity to move to Windsor Engine Plant Annex to support 7.3-liter engine production,” Ford Canada spokesman Matthew Drennan-Scace told Automotive News Canada in an email.
Keeping Things Straight: When to know if your wheels need realignment
The loss of a shift at Essex Engine results from the increase in available engine options for the Ford F-Series. In addition to the 5.0-liter V8, Ford offers the 2.7-liter EcoBoost, the 3.3-liter V6, the twin turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost, and the 3.0-liter Power Stroke diesel as options for the F-150. According to president of Unifor Local 200 John D’Agnolo, the popularity of smaller engines is the cause for the shift reduction.
Ford Windsor Engine builds the 6.8-liter V10 as well as the new 7.3-liter engine offered with the 2020 Super Duty. To accommodate the new engine, Windsor will add two new shifts in November that will allow Essex employees to stay on. The facilities are approximately 15 minutes apart, and D’Agnolo tells Automotive News Canada that employees were well aware of the move in advance.
“We’ve had down shifts every week since January, and we have two down weeks in the summer, and two more down weeks scheduled in September,” said D’Agnolo. “We could see that sales of the 5.0-liter were dropping.”
Ford Essex Engine currently employs around 820 people. Windsor Engine currently employs approximately 1,510 people.
Do You Need It? What’s the importance of having your oil changed?
News Source: Automotive News Canada (subscription required)
The News Wheel is a digital auto magazine providing readers with a fresh perspective on the latest car news. We’re located in the heart of America (Dayton, Ohio) and our goal is to deliver an entertaining and informative perspective on what’s trending in the automotive world. See more articles from The News Wheel.