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By Patrick Rall Jun 16 2011 - 12:01pm

The Ford Mustang plant could be in trouble

Since the introduction of the S197 platform Ford Mustang in 2005, the legendary pony car has been built at the Auto Alliance plant which Ford shares with Mazda but with the news that Mazda is planning to move out in the near future, some analysts believe that the Mustang alone does not move enough units to keep the Flat Rock production facility up and running.
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The Auto Alliance production facility in Flat Rock, Michigan currently produces the Ford Mustang and the Mazda6 but Mazda has recently announced that it would shift that production from Flat Rock to one of their Japanese production facilities. They have not announced what their plans are for the Auto Alliance plant once the Mazda6 has moved out but should the Japanese automaker opt to remove themselves from the equation at the Flat Rock plant – Ford may not be able to sustain the facility with just the Mustang alone. The plant current runs only on shift to build the Mazda6 and the Mustang.

While it is romantic to think of the mighty Ford Mustang having its own stable in Flat Rock, Ford sold just under 74,000 Mustangs in 2010 and so far this year, the pony car is 2.8% behind where they were after May of 2010. This means that Ford is on pace to sell fewer Mustangs in 2011 than in 2010 and with the Flat Rock plant having an annual capacity of 240,000 units – the Mustang would take up about a third of the plant’s total capacity. Based on those numbers, it might be hard for Ford to justify keeping the plant running strictly for the Mustang but as the Mazda6 moves out; Ford could use the extra room to build additional models at the Auto Alliance plant.

One thing that could help Ford and the Flat Rock facility is the rumor that 2014 will bring about the next generation of the Ford Mustang. Rumors suggest that the 50th anniversary edition Mustang in 2014 could be smaller and more capable to fit into more global markets. The ability to sell the Mustang in more markets around the world could help Ford keep the Flat Rock plant busy but even if Ford could double the demand for the Mustang – 140,000 units is still well under the capacity of the Auto Alliance plant.

Should Ford be forced to move the production of the Mustang to another facility, it could be the second time that Ford Motor Company has shut down this facility; having closed what was previously an engine facility in the 1970s. Ford has stated that they are in discussions with both Mazda and the UAW about the future of the Flat Rock plant. The Mustang moved its production to the Auto Alliance facility in 2005 after its previous home in Dearborn was shut down.

Source: Automotive News

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Comments

Anonymous wrote on June 17, 2011 - 8:26pm
ford needs to advertise the mustang because here where i live i run into lots of people that has no clue what a beast this 2011 has become . they still think the camaro will outrun it. LOL
Anonymous wrote on June 17, 2011 - 8:51pm
Perhaps more people would buy this wonderful vehicle if it did not take over 8 weeks to get one that you ordered. Mine has been out of production since june 1 and is still sitting in the railyard awaiting shipment. If it is not shipped within the week, I am unfortunately cancelling my order for this dream car!
J.H. wrote on June 18, 2011 - 1:32pm
They also might sell more Mustangs if they would fix the problem with the MT82 manual transmission that won't shift gears without grinding the synchro's. Both 2011 and 2012 models are experiencing major problems which Ford either can't or won't fix. Over 300 pages of complaints here on a Mustang forum: http://www.allfordmustangs.com/forums/2011-mustang-talk/268693-official-2011-mustang-manual-transmission-rough-shifting-thread.html
Anonymous wrote on June 18, 2011 - 3:03pm
what about the people buying 2011 mustangs and slapping superchargers on them and 410 gears racing them and having no problems at all with their trannys. i read those post and they say ford refuses to fix them . could be ford knows how many are making 525 to 625 hp and being raced and no problems. tells me and possibly ford someone may not be shifting right and tearing the syncros out. i read one that said his was throwing codes on a manual shift [lol]. i wonder how many of these post were put on by camaro drivers mad because a mustang just stomped them on the street.one dude spent hours making a movie dissing ford my thought to that was no ford guy would go through that kind of trouble to make ford look bad but a chevy guy would . i read one from a ford customer service employee that asked for their vin# and build date so they could put the info in the data center and get them help but seen no replies to that . if i bought a car and my dealer refused to fix a defect and a random customer service agent offered to help i,d jump on it .but if i were hotrodding it and not getting it in gear before i let the clutch out and tore the syncros out i,d fix it and learn how to drive why would or should that be covered under warranty it shouldnt. because if it were everybody would try to run every car to death before the warranty ran out so the manufacture would replace it back to new. wow what a deal that would be.the warranty is for factory defects not non driving consumers.[ ps ford uses these same parts on their factory backed racing mustangs so they would know if there was a problem ]
Anonymous wrote on September 2, 2011 - 11:08am
Yes...it's true. The Camaro has been destroying the mustang on the track and on the Dealer lots. Something I have known for about the past two years now. Ford is making a wise but desperate move. If the mustang was even close to level that the Camaro is competing at, well ford wouldn't be giving their bs talk about flat rock. 2012 is the year that will probably hurt ford the most with the new ZL1 and 45th anniversary packs from Chevy. Good luck ford house and remember, Chevrolet had similar feelings in the early 90s which eventually led to well...the old Camaro's demise so beware and hold your tongues you mustang lovers.