Automobile major Ford has geared up to produce around 40,000 extra units this year by cutting down its traditional two-week summer shutdown to one for its five manufacturing units in the US.
The decision comes in the wake of customer demand registered for its vehicles. This will be the third year in a row the company has reduced its shutdown period.
As part of the schedule being followed annually, Ford's North American manufacturing facilities undergo a shutdown between June 29 and July 10 to make way for maintenance and machine retooling.
However, the five units entrusted with producing the carmaker's newest vehicles - F-150, Edge, Escape and Explorer, will not be operational only during the week of June 29. The units at Chicago, Dearborn Truck, Kansas City, Louisville and Oakville in the US also include those for backing supporting powertrain and stamping plants.
Ford North America Manufacturing vice president Bruce Hettle said: "To meet surging customer demand for our top-selling trucks and utilities, we are continuing to run our North American facilities during the traditional two-week summer shutdown in order to add close to 40,000 units.
"Six of our assembly plants will build for an additional week in order to ensure we're getting more of our vehicles into dealerships."
The company has pumped in more than $6.2bn and created over 15,000 employment opportunities in its US facilities.
