Ford to suffer $1B hit from brutal NY factory fire at key supplier — with F-150 trucks seen impacted

Core Viewpoint - Ford is expected to face a significant earnings impact, potentially up to $1 billion, due to a fire at a key supplier's aluminum factory, with the F-150 trucks being the most affected model [1][9]. Group 1: Incident Details - A fire on September 16 destroyed parts of the Novelis aluminum factory in Oswego, New York, and is anticipated to keep the facility down until early 2026 [1][4]. - The fire required the efforts of 175 firefighters and involved 26 fire departments to extinguish, with the cause still under investigation [12]. Group 2: Impact on Ford - Ford is the largest user of the Novelis plant, which primarily supplies aluminum for its F-150 trucks, leading to a projected earnings hit of $500 million to $1 billion [2][9]. - Production of the F-150 electric pickup at Ford's Dearborn, Michigan plant will be paused next week due to the fire, affecting the supply of aluminum through the end of the year [5]. Group 3: Broader Industry Context - The incident adds to the challenges faced by American automakers, who are already dealing with rising costs from tariffs on aluminum and steel, a global semiconductor shortage, and supply chain disruptions [10][11]. - Novelis produces over 350,000 metric tons of sheet aluminum annually for various automakers, including Ford, Toyota, and Stellantis [11].