DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — Ford Motor Co. says it will temporarily shut down two light truck plants in Michigan and Kentucky on Monday.
The shutdowns come two weeks ahead of their planned holiday closings. Company spokeswoman Anne Marie Gattari said the move is part of the company's typical response to adjust supply to meet fluctuating demand.
Affected are a plant in Dearborn that builds the F-150 pickup and another in Louisville, Ky., that builds the Explorer sport utility.
Sales of Ford's F-series pickups fell 11.7 percent to 46,568 last month.
More plant cuts are expected after the first of the year as part of Ford's announced plan for a 7 percent reduction in production in the first quarter of 2008. The company is predicting sales will be at their slowest pace in a decade in the first half of 2008.
General Motors Corp. also anticipated a decline and announced an 11 percent first-quarter production cut.