Ford to idle Ky. plant for a week due to microchip shortage Ford to idle Ky. plant for a week due to microchip shortage January 8, 2021 dzadmin Comments 0 Comment Roughly 3,900 workers who build the Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair will go on temporary layoff starting Monday. A GM spokesman said the automaker’s U.S. plants had not been affected by the shortage but the company is watching the situation closely.