DETROIT -- Detroit's Big Three automakers, crippled by the eight-state blackout that struck Thursday, prepared to resume production Monday at more than 50 plants in the United States and Canada. þþCrews from General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group spent Sunday checking equipment at idled plants and assessing the blackout's cost to their bottom lines and inventory levels. þþCompany spokesmen said it was too soon to estimate costs, in part because computers and other equipment used to do so also were knocked out. But all three said they were confident they could make up most of the lost production. þþÿMost of our plants have power, but some of the local energy companies have asked us to hold back until Monday,ÿ Ford spokesman Ed Lewis said Sunday. þþTwenty-three of Ford's 44 plants in North America lost power during the blackout, which also spread to parts of Canada where automakers build cars and trucks. Ford's idled plants were concentrated in southeastern Michigan, the Cleveland area and parts of Ontario. þþSome plants in southeast Michigan had power restored Saturday, but utilities urged them and other large industrial customers to limit the use of electricity through Sunday while power systems were brought to full capacity. þþTony Earley, chairman and chief executive of Detroit-based DTE Energy, one of the state's largest utilities, said cooperation among the Big Three was a key factor to restoring power to the area sooner than expected. þþÿWe've worked closely with large industrial companies, including the automakers,ÿ Earley said. þþRepresentatives from GM and DaimlerChrysler both said all their affected plants should be at full production by Monday. þþÿWe definitely lost some production, but we're optimistic we're going to be able to make up that production within the next several weeks,ÿ GM spokesman Pat Morrissey said. þþThe company will use overtime and weekends to make up the loss. þþU.S. supplies of new cars and trucks were 12 percent above average at the end of July, down slightly from the end of June when inventories were 13 percent above normal, according to a research report from Merrill Lynch analyst John Casesa. þþAutomakers of late have used aggressive incentives -- averaging as much as $3,800 a vehicle -- to rid themselves of inventory as new models arrive at dealerships. þþIn trading Friday on the New York Stock Exchange, GM shares fell 22 cents to close at $37.10; Ford shares were up a cent to $10.77. DaimlerChrysler shares were up 23 cents to $37.13.
Source: Chicago Tribune
