Ford to Halt Atlanta Plant for a Week

Ford Motor Co. will close an Atlanta car plant for a week starting Monday, idling about 2,100 workers to reduce production because of lower orders from rental-car companies and businesses.

The plant makes the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable sedans. U.S. auto sales surged 24% last month, and Ford’s total U.S. sales rose 34% in October, helped by no-interest loans.

Taurus sales rose 35% to 33,430 last month, and Sable sales increased almost 37% to 10,656. Orders from rental-car companies and businesses looking to add to fleets slid 30% last month and have been declining since July as a slowing economy reduces travel demand and prompts companies to scale back on purchasing, Ford sales analyst George Pipas said.

About half the sales of Taurus, Ford’s best-selling car this year, are to rental-car and corporate customers.

General Motors Corp. said Thursday that it will close an Oshawa, Ontario, car plant for a week starting Monday, affecting 2,500 workers. The factory makes Buick Century and Regal cars.

Ford shares fell 8 cents to $16.29 on the NYSE.