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Ford to reassign 400 assembly workers to nearby plants as Bronco sales drop


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Ford Motor Co. is reassigning some workers who build the Bronco SUV at the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne to nearby plants.

The Dearborn-based automaker confirmed Wednesday that about 400 workers will be relocated to either the Dearborn Engine Plant or Monroe Parts Depot in the first quarter of 2025.

The action comes as Bronco sales have declined this year. Sales of the SUV are down 10% in 2024 through October.

Ford spokesperson Lars Weborg noted, though, that sales of the Bronco have rebounded in recent months.

The plant, which also builds the Ranger midsize pickup and added a third crew earlier this year, will remain on a three-crew pattern.

"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," Weborg said in an email.

Automotive News was first to report the news.

Ford has recently taken other actions to adjust production to match demand. The automaker is idling its F-150 Lightning electric truck plant in Dearborn through the end of the year as it continues to deal with slower-than-expected EV demand.

It announced Wednesday that it will cut its European workforce by 14%, also citing lagging EV adoption, particularly in Germany, which ended EV subsidies at the end of 2023.

The Michigan Assembly Plant will be down the first two weeks in January to prepare for the model year changeover.

Contact Adrienne Roberts: amroberts@freepress.com