(Adds detail of shutdowns, shift of consumers away from
traditional cars)
By Bernie Woodall
DETROIT, June 7 (Reuters) - Ford Motor (NYSE:F) Co F.N and Fiat
Chrysler Automobiles FCAU.N FCHA.MI are cutting production
of smaller cars and idling workers at some North American
factories, while boosting output of sport utility vehicles in
reaction to a long-term shift toward larger vehicles, the
companies said separately on Tuesday.
The Detroit-area plant that makes the slow-selling Ford
Focus and C-Max compact cars will shut an additional five weeks
through the end of this year beyond the normal down time of two
weeks in the summer and one week at the year-end holidays, Ford
confirmed on Tuesday.
The additional five weeks will not be consecutive, Ford
said, adding that it foresaw the slowing of car demand and had
planned for the extra downtime at the start of the year.
U.S. consumers have increasingly favored SUVs and pickup
trucks over traditional cars like sedans and hatchbacks. Car
sales made up about 42 percent of U.S. new-vehicle sales in the
first five months of this year. That compares with about 46
percent in the same period of 2015.