From Deseret News archives:

Ford to cut 30,000 jobs

Rollback called 'painful last resort' may hit Utah

Published: Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2006 12:08 a.m. MST
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
DEARBORN, Mich. — The Ford Motor Co. said Monday it will close as many as 14 factories and cut up to 30,000 jobs over the next six years.

It was the latest move in a fundamental restructuring of Detroit's traditional auto companies, hit hard by foreign competitors who have taken more than 40 percent of the American market.

The moves by Ford, the second-largest automaker in the United States, come two months after industry leader General Motors said it would close all or part of a dozen factories and eliminate a similar number of jobs.

Including cuts that took place at the Chrysler Corp., the Big Three automakers have eliminated or announced plans to eliminate nearly 140,000 jobs since 2000. That is about one-third of their North American payroll, a rollback to a work-force size not seen since the end of World War II.

The effects of Ford's cuts may be felt as far away as Utah, although at least one local car dealer said Monday that he was feeling positive about Ford's planned changes.

Larry Cutler, general sales manager for LaPoint Ford at 5500 S. State in Murray, said it is not good that people are going to lose their jobs, but he is glad Ford is going to "get into the game and fight it out."

Story continues below
"We're excited about it, because it's about time Ford retooled itself," Cutler said. "We need to be competitive with the imports."

He said he does not expect sales to dip at the LaPoint dealership as a result of the company's cutbacks, and he looks forward to the buzz that will accompany Ford's plans to roll out new hybrids and body styles.

"Ford is definitely ready to put the gloves on," Cutler said. "It's good for us as dealers, because it adds a shot in the arm."

One of Ford's suppliers, air-bag manufacturer Autoliv ASP Inc. in Ogden, also is not too concerned about the cuts, according to spokeswoman Kathy Whitehead.

"Any time our business partners experience dramatic shifts in their operations, there's certainly a possibility that we could see some impact," Whitehead said. "Although in this case, we expect that it will be minimal."

She said Autoliv, which employs about 4,200 people at several northern Utah locations, has worked hard to develop a mix of customers.

"Certainly Ford is an important customer for us," Whitehead said. "We have been working to build a customer mix in North America that not only encompasses the Big Three automakers, but also the European and Asian transplant markets."

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Image

Sales representative Lupe Munoz, left, talks with Pedro Nava at LaPoint Ford in Murray on Monday. Ford announced layoffs and plant closings in effort to boost profits.

previousnext

Latest comments

CSU bans guns on campus

Any blood spilt at CSU as a result of this policy of people being denied the...

Letters: What about the woman?

RE: @ Bro Chuck 11:28 a.m. | 12:03 p.m. Dec. 4, 2009 Chuck, What ELSE would...

so this is the tru teams right here. the tribune doesnt matter?

I just want to wish KRCL and all 12 of their listeners a Happy Birthday.

Felt's Facts season recap

Hart doesn't have the year he had without having receivers who catch the...

Utah Jazz going green with unis

Tell the Jazz to keep them permanently.

U.S. draws England for World Cup

England has had a solid qualification. They will be tough, but I believe the...

U.S. draws England for World Cup

This is a great draw! I'm am looking forward to watching Team USA play.

Pitta named to All-America team

Yeah. That system includes making game-winning/game-ending touchdowns against...

It's not that Tiger did anything illegal,but that he portrayed himself as...

Advertisements