Semiconductor shortage puts brakes on Ford truck production

Ford Motor Co. is letting thousands of new vehicles sit idle at their assembly plants because a global shortage of semiconductors in impeding production. 

The chip deficit, which started in December, means Ford could miss out on $1 billion to $2.5 billion in sales, the Michigan automaker warned this week. Ford said its Edge sport utility vehicle and F-150 pickup trucks will sit at its Louisville, Kentucky, plant for weeks awaiting more chips. Until these vehicles can be fully assembled, Ford is cutting employee shifts at the Kentucky plant. Ford said in a statement Thursday it will hold newly built Edges and F-150s before shipping the "vehicles to dealers once the modules are available and comprehensive quality checks are complete."