02:32 06-03-2026

Ford Super Duty production recovers after plant fire disruption

It's worth noting that the aluminum produced at Novelis' plant is used in manufacturing Ford's most popular pickups and SUVs. As a result, the crisis caused by the fires inevitably impacted production volumes for these models.

Specifically, Ford Super Duty pickup production saw a sharp decline in January. At the Kentucky plant, output dropped from 27,818 units in December to 14,190 in January—a decrease of 13,628 units, or 49%. Meanwhile, the Ohio plant produced 1,139 Super Duty pickups in January compared to 1,772 in December, a reduction of 633 trucks, or nearly 36%. Overall, total Ford Super Duty production in January stood at 15,239 units, which is 14,261 fewer than the previous month, marking a 48% drop.

However, by the following month, February, Super Duty production had already rebounded to pre-fire levels, matching figures from a year earlier. Ford produced 29,500 Super Duty vehicles at the Kentucky plant and 1,547 in Ohio.

Despite the fires at the Novelis plant potentially costing Ford a staggering $2 billion, the automaker also plans to ramp up production of the F-150 and Super Duty throughout 2026. This move aims to offset those losses and meet growing demand by increasing shift counts and workforce at these plants.