Navistar Suspending Production at Pickup-Engine Plant

Navistar International Corp. said it is suspending production at its Indianapolis engine plant beginning starting Friday for at least eight weeks because of Ford Motor Co.’s cutback in pickup truck production.

“The engine division of the Indianapolis plant is going into layoff after Friday,” said Navistar spokesman Roy Wiley. “It will stay on layoff until June 30, when we will go into our annual three-week summer maintenance shutdown.”

Wiley declined to say how many workers would be laid off and said the plant will not be fully shut down, as it also produces metal parts.

The Indianapolis plant produces engines for the Ford’s s Super Duty pickup series, which includes the F-250 through the F-550.

Navistar also makes heavy-duty trucks and engines, including International brand trucks.

Ford said this week it would cut production this year of primarily heavier vehicles including pickups, to cut costs.