Ford Motor Co. has canceled summer shutdowns at its four plants producing F-Series pickup trucks in an effort to make up for lost volumes due to an aluminum shortage stemming from fires last fall at a supplier, and General Motors Co. is adding a production day at its heavy-duty truck plant in Flint.

Ford on Monday said its Dearborn Truck Plant, Kentucky Truck Plant, Kansas City Assembly Plant in Missouri and Ohio Assembly Plant won't idle for the usual one week this summer as Ford aims to boost production of F-150 and Super Duty trucks. Production has been affected since multiple fires hit the hot mill at Novelis Inc.'s Oswego aluminum plant. Ford hopes to increase manufacturing by 50,000 of the trucks this year.

Meanwhile, GM will operate Flint Assembly six days a week, up from five, starting in June in response to demand for the gas-guzzling pickups, despite higher fuel prices resulting from supply limitations because Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz to international commercial shipping. Roughly 20% of the world's oil supply travels through the strait. Gas prices at $3.99 on average are up 26% year-over-year, according to the American Automobile Association.

Novelis has said its hot mill should be running at capacity again as early as May. Ford in January increased the jobs per hour at Kentucky Truck Plant, adding 100 jobs. It also in February added a third crew to Dearborn Truck Plant. Ford is moving forward with plans later this year to launch Super Duty production at its Oakville Assembly Complex in Ontario, Canada, as well.

U.S. sales of F-Series trucks, the country's best-selling truck, were down 17% through February, though Ford said it had beat Chevrolet Silverado sales. Both automakers will report first-quarter U.S. sales later this week.

"Demand for the Ford F-Series is strong and we expect to finish the first quarter again as America’s No. 1-selling truck," spokesperson Jessica Enoch said in a statement. "We are moving quickly to ramp volume."

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