Detroit Three to Boost Output by Paring July Break

Detroit's Big Three automakers all plan to increase production in the next few months by shortening traditional summer downtime.

General Motors Co. says a few of its plants could be idled for only a week or less this summer because of model changeovers. But the company plans no other shutdowns.

Ford Motor Co. intends to ease tight inventories by halving the traditional two-week summer shutdown at 20 North American factories this year and producing an additional 40,000 vehicles. The shorter break in early July affects six assembly plants mostly those making small cars and fullsize pickup trucks and 14 powertrain and parts facilities.

Ford also has been adding shifts and will hire 3,500 workers this year to meet rising demand. Three-quarters of its factories in the region are operating at the equivalent of three shifts daily, according to the company.

Ford, which boosted North American output by 124,000 units to 2.82 million vehicles last year, aims to hike production by another 240,000 units in 2013.

At Chrysler Group LLC, three assembly plants and most of the company's engine, transmission and stamping factories will keep running all summer. Four assembly facilities will take a break of only one week. That's roughly the same amount of downtime Chrysler took a year earlier.