Ford Motor Co. has delayed shipments of its newest vehicles, the 2005 Ford Five Hundred sedan, Freestyle sport wagon and Mercury Montego sedan to dealerships, Automotive News reported Monday. Ford has been building the vehicles at its Chicago assembly plant since mid-July. Dealers had been told shipments would begin the week of Aug. 23. Ford COO Jim Padilla would not specify last week why Ford is holding on to the vehicles, though he expects shipments to begin within the next couple of weeks. Sales are still planned for September, though volume sales are not expected until October, after dealers build inventory and advertising begins. To date, the company has built 3,627 Five Hundreds, 2,316 Freestyles and 915 Montegos.
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