Before a single 2024 Mustang has made it into customers’ hands, Ford is already cutting production at its Flat Rock Assembly Plant to address quality issues. The decision is a particularly timely one, as the automaker is in the midst of addressing the production errors that dogged its vehicles in recent years.
After the build-out of the 2024 Mustang was finished in early April, Ford cut production shifts on the weeks of April 24, May 1, and May 8, an unnamed member of the sports car’s launch team told the Detroit Free Press.
With these measures, the automaker is specifically attempting to work out quality issues with the fitment of body panels, the electrical system, and the valves in the V8 engine. Although Ford did not directly confirm these efforts, it did tell the outlet that it is committed to making sure that its vehicles are “built with the quality our customers deserve and will take the appropriate actions to deliver this commitment.”
Read: How Ford Is Battling Quality Control Issues With Kentucky Truck Plant Shutdown
A spokesperson also noted that Ford has introduced a new launch process for its vehicles. Indeed, last week we reported on such efforts at its Kentucky Truck Plant, where production was also shut down while engineers rooted out production errors.
These measures are expensive for an automaker, and it can cost millions of dollars to shut a plant down for a day. However, Ford reportedly spent billions on warranty repairs in 2022, and was the automaker with the most and biggest recalls of that year.
Ford said that it was looking to take what it learned at its Kentucky Truck Plant and apply it to other factories, such as Flat Rock Assembly, where the Mustang is made.
While it may in the best interest of its buyers, the process is reportedly annoying workers. Some people employed at Flat Rock complained that the frequent shutdowns were leading to temporary layoffs while production issues were weeded out. However, if that means fewer recalls and customer complaints, Ford is likely to consider that a worthwhile compromise.