AP Sources: Parts problem hurts Ford Focus sales

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By TOM KRISHER

DETROIT (AP) - Ford can't make enough Focus cars to keep up with rising demand because of equipment problems that have caused a shortage of dashboards, two people familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.

Machinery that makes the skin that covers dashboards at a Ford parts factory outside Detroit works intermittently. That is forcing the company to take the unusual and costly step of flying in parts from Europe to keep its assembly lines moving, the people said. Despite those efforts, the Focus plant near Detroit can't run at full speed, they said.

The problem comes at a time when high gas prices and shortages of Japanese small cars have driven up demand for the Focus. Dealers say they're having trouble getting the newly redesigned compacts, and they've been forced to put customers on waiting lists.

The people, who didn't want to be identified because they're not authorized to speak about the matter, said Ford is working to fix the equipment problem at the parts plant in Saline, Mich., but so far the company hasn't found a solution.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20110728/D9OOPUVG1.html

---

AP Auto Writer Dee-Ann Durbin contributed to this report.


In this March 17, 2011 file photo, a line worker assembles a 2012 Ford Focus at the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Mich. Ford Motor Co. can’t build as many hot-selling Focus compacts as it wants to because of equipment problems at a parts factory, say two people familiar with the matter. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, file)