Ford Motor Co. plans to reassign 400 employees from its Michigan Assembly Plant, which produces the Bronco SUV, to other nearby facilities in early 2025, as Bronco sales dropped 10% in 2024 through October despite recent signs of recovery.
The reassignments will move workers to either the Dearborn Engine Plant or Monroe Parts Depot in the first quarter of next year, a Ford spokesperson confirmed. The Michigan Assembly Plant will maintain its current three-crew schedule to continue production of both the Bronco and the Ranger midsize pickup truck.
“We are encouraged by the momentum heading into the end of the year, which, along with this production adjustment, should further balance inventory of model year '24 vehicles as we head into the launch of model year '25,” Ford spokesperson Lars Weborg said in an email to the Detroit Free Press.
Ford's decision reflects broader adjustments across the automaker’s operations to align production with market demand. For example, the company recently announced a temporary suspension of operations at its F-150 Lightning electric truck plant in Dearborn through the end of 2024 due to slower-than-expected demand for electric vehicles.
In Europe, Ford is also reducing its workforce by 14%, citing sluggish EV adoption in markets like Germany, where subsidies for EVs ended in late 2023.
The Michigan Assembly Plant will temporarily halt production during the first two weeks of January to prepare for the model year changeover. Ford remains optimistic that adjustments across its operations will help align supply and demand while positioning the company for future growth.
