Ford temporarily cuts production at Kentucky truck plant after fire erupts at supplier

Core Insights - Ford is temporarily halting production of its three-row SUVs, the Expedition and Lincoln Navigator, at its Kentucky Truck Plant due to aluminum supply issues stemming from a fire at a key supplier's facility [1][2][7] Group 1: Production Impact - The production pause is expected to last for one week, although the memo did not explicitly cite the fire as the reason for the halt [2] - The fire occurred on September 16 and affected only one area of the Novelis plant in Oswego, New York, which is crucial for supplying aluminum sheet to U.S. automakers, including Ford [7] - Novelis supplies approximately 40% of the aluminum sheet used in the automotive industry, indicating a significant impact on production capabilities [7][8] Group 2: Supplier Response - Novelis has stated that its Oswego plant will not resume operations until the first quarter of fiscal 2026 as it works to restore its hot mill [5] - The company is activating its global network of plants and collaborating with industry peers to source materials to mitigate supply gaps [8] - Despite these efforts, industry experts caution that automakers, including Ford, are likely to continue facing disruptions due to Novelis' critical role as a major aluminum supplier [8] Group 3: Company Actions - Ford has deployed a full team to address the supply situation with Novelis and is exploring all possible alternatives to minimize potential disruptions [10] - However, Ford has previously declined to comment on the specific impacts on its production [11]