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What Happens When The City That Drives The World Gets Snowed In? Automakers Figure It Out

By Jeffery Gilbert, WWJ
METRO DETROIT (WWJ) - It's hard to make cars when the people who build those cars can't make it in to work. So, all three of the domestic auto companies have seen their production impacted by the storm.

The biggest impact could be at Ford, where Dearborn Truck had to cancel its first shift.  That plant builds the new F-150 pickup, which is just launching and in short supply.

Other plants which had to cancel first shifts include Romeo Engine and Michigan Assembly at Ford, and all three of Fiat Chrysler's Detroit area plants, Sterling Heights Assembly, Michigan Truck Assembly, and Jefferson North Assembly.

The story is similar.  Many workers made it in, but not enough to run the assembly lines.

A spokesman told WWJ AutoBeat Reporter Jeff Gilbert General Motors has cancelled the first shift at its Orion Assembly Plant as well as Lansing Delta Township and Lansing Grand River. GM's Toledo Transmission plant has also cancelled its first shift.

General Motors says production has been curtailed at several other plants, due to lower staffing levels.

All of the plants that have cancelled their first shifts, are expected to run full second shifts.

Fiat-Chrysler, however, says they are still waiting for word from Toledo, where the assembly complex remains closed due to a snow emergency.

This is the first major disruption of auto facilities this winter.   Disruptions of this type were frequent occurrences during the very difficult winter of 2013-2014 and cost car companies millions of dollars

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