Ford to slow production at Louisville plant

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) Ford will slow production at its Louisville Assembly Plant, possibly leading to job cuts. <br/><br/>The plant produces two of Ford's flagship vehicles, the Explorer and Explorer

Tuesday, November 21st 2006, 2:47 pm

By: News On 6

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) Ford will slow production at its Louisville Assembly Plant, possibly leading to job cuts.

The plant produces two of Ford's flagship vehicles, the Explorer and Explorer Sport Trac.

Ford is offering buyout offers to workers. They have until next week to make up their minds. Plan manager Joe Bobnar says in a letter that if enough workers take the deal cuts won't be necessary.

Neither the company nor the workers' union could say today how many of the 3,200 hourly jobs would be eliminated.

The automaker lost $254 million in the second quarter of this year as it struggled against foreign competition.

Ford is offering early retirement and buyout packages to all 75,000 of its U.S. hourly workers.