Ford May Shutter Five North American Plants

Ford Motor Co., which plans to unveil a restructuring plan next week, is likely to announce the closing of five North American plants, a research firm said.

Global Insight Inc. said the plants likely to be targeted were those in Atlanta; St. Louis; St. Paul, Minn.; Cuautitlan, Mexico; and St. Thomas, Canada.

Calling the plants vulnerable, analysts at Waltham, Mass.-based Global Insight said they had not seen Ford’s restructuring plan, and that their report was based on research and discussions with experts.

Ford officials weren’t available for comment.