Ford Motor Co. announced on Monday that it would be cutting production short at two of their U.S. auto plants. The light truck plants in Dearborn, Michigan and Louisville, Kentucky will be stopping production two weeks before their scheduled holiday closing

The Dearborn site produces F-150 pick-up trucks and the Louisville site produces the Explorer SUV. Both sites are being closed as the sales of both models has been slowing down. Sales of Ford’s F-series pick-up’s, for example, fell 11.7 per cent to 46,568 last month.

Insiders say that more plant cuts are to be expected after the first of the year. Ford’s announced plan for a seven per cent reduction in production in the first quarter of 2008 backs that up.

So far this all seems natural as decreased demand calls for a slow-down of production, but it could not come at a worst time for Ford. Most inside the company are expecting the worst for the beginning of the year, with sales predicted to be the lowest in decades.

Should be intresti

Sales of Ford’s F-series pickups fell 11.7 per cent to 46,568 last month.

More plant cuts are expected after the first of the year as part of Ford’s announced plan for a seven per cent reduction in production in the first quarter of 2008. The company is predicting sales will be at their slowest pace in a decade in the first half of 2008.

It should be interesting to see how the big blue oval will deal with this one.