Ford Motor Co. is flying car parts from New Zealand to keep its assembly plants working after regular shipments were delayed by a lockout in U.S. West Coast ports, the New Zealand Herald reported.
The world's second-biggest carmaker yesterday flew 10,000 alloy wheels from Argent Metals Technology Ltd. in Auckland to be fitted to Ford Taurus and Mercury Mountaineer vehicles at U.S. plants, the newspaper said. Another flight is expected next week, said Neil Campbell, Argent general manager, according to the newspaper.
Argent usually ships about 25,000 wheels a week to Ford, Campbell said, according to the newspaper. Ford is paying for the airfreight, which generally costs ten times more than sending goods by seas, the newspaper said.
U.S. President George W. Bush yesterday ended the lockout, which began Sept. 29., saying the dispute cost the economy as much as $1 billion a day. The 29 West Coast ports plan to open 24 hours a day to clear the backlog of goods.
(New Zealand Herald, 10-11, C3)
The world's second-biggest carmaker yesterday flew 10,000 alloy wheels from Argent Metals Technology Ltd. in Auckland to be fitted to Ford Taurus and Mercury Mountaineer vehicles at U.S. plants, the newspaper said. Another flight is expected next week, said Neil Campbell, Argent general manager, according to the newspaper.
Argent usually ships about 25,000 wheels a week to Ford, Campbell said, according to the newspaper. Ford is paying for the airfreight, which generally costs ten times more than sending goods by seas, the newspaper said.
U.S. President George W. Bush yesterday ended the lockout, which began Sept. 29., saying the dispute cost the economy as much as $1 billion a day. The 29 West Coast ports plan to open 24 hours a day to clear the backlog of goods.
(New Zealand Herald, 10-11, C3)