Ford to idle two more assembly plants

DETROIT - The Ford Motor Company said today it will idle two more of its US assembly plants as part of the automaker's broader restructuring plan.

Ford's restructuring plan, dubbed "Way Forward", calls for the closing of 14 plants, including seven assembly plants, and slashing up to 30,000 blue-collar jobs.

It is designed to reverse a US$1.6 billion loss last year in the company's North American operations.

The latest plants to be idled are at St. Paul, Minnesota, and Norfolk, Virginia.

Ford has already announced the closure of plants in Wixom, Michigan, St Louis, Missouri, and Atlanta, Georgia.

- REUTERS