Ford Motor Co. is set to eliminate about 300 additional jobs at its F-Series Super Duty pickup truck in Louisville , Ky., later this summer as the company responds to falling demand for heavier vehicles.



The auto maker is reducing the amount of shifts it operates in the stamping, body and paint operations at the plant, which until recently was one of the most profitable factories in its sprawling production footprint. Employees were informed Thursday morning, and have the option of taking a buyout package from the auto maker, Ford spokeswoman Angie Kozleski said.



Ford's most-recent move was first reported by the Courier-Journal.



The auto maker's cuts follow an announcement it made last month related to various production actions it is taking to cope with a dramatic drop in demand for trucks and SUVs. Sales of those vehicles represent a major chunk of Ford's global revenue and profits, but their popularity has faded as gasoline and diesel prices continue to rise.



"As we continue to align capacity with real demand, we often need to adjust how many shifts we run at our plants," Ms. Kozleski said. She noted that four Ford plants currently are offering buyouts to employees and did not rule out more cutbacks in relation to the company's capacity strategy.

[ Source :  Wall Street Journal ]