LOUISVILLE, KY—Ford Motor Co.’s assembly plant here has been shut down this week because of difficulties getting parts needed to make its vehicles, putting about 3,900 hourly workers temporarily out of work.
Specifically, a lack of computer chips that go into brake control modules is the issue. Manufacturing of the chips has been disrupted due to the coronavirus pandemic. The problem is affecting other automotive OEMs, including Volkswagen and Honda.
The Louisville plant assembles the Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair SUVs.