Ford to restart production of F-150, other vehicles after shutdown

May 17 (UPI) -- Ford Motor Company said Thursday it will resume production of F-150 pickups -- the best-selling truck in the United States -- after a fire two weeks ago halted assembly lines.

The automaker said it's moved "quickly to refurbish and relocate tooling needed to produce parts" after a fire this month damaged a parts supplier in Eaton Rapids, Mich.

Ford said production of its F-150 and Super Duty trucks and five other vehicles -- Expedition, Explorer, Flex and Lincoln Navigator and MKT -- was impacted by the May 2 fire.

Ford said F-150 production will resume Friday at its Dearborn, Mich., plant and Monday for Super Duty trucks in Kentucky and Missouri.

"While the situation remains extremely dynamic, our teams are focused on returning our plants to full production as fast as possible," Ford President Joe Hinrichs said in a statement. "The ramp-up time to full production is improving every day."

The lack of tools due to the fire caused Ford assembly lines to shut down for a little over a week.

The stop in production impacted about 7,600 workers, Ford said.

Kelley Blue Book rated the F-150 as the best-selling truck in the United States last year.