Photo: Ford Motor Company
Every time an automaker seems to have nailed the perfect model for the right audience, the chances for something to go wrong seem to skyrocket proportionally with the fame. As if the wait wasn’t long enough for the Blue Oval to finally kick off series production for the 2021 Bronco, a recent turn of events spells utter disaster.
The automotive industry hoped that disruptions caused by the current global health situation would be confined to the first part of the year. But it seems the problems are more widespread than anyone dared to imagine. Late last week, these issues caught up with one of the most important releases of the year – the 2021 Ford Bronco.
According to reports citing official sources, Ford has decided to add further pressure on the already thinning patience of Bronco fans by pushing back the start of deliveries to next summer. That’s around a year after the model’s reveal!
Ford placed the blame for the hiccup on a supplier problem. The delay will affect more than customer deliveries, though. It includes the order bank moving to mid-January 2021 (from December 2020), a lengthened order conversion window through March, and manual transmission on Sasquatch pack scheduled late next year for 2022 model year.
Because it’s standard practice, the guilty contractor wasn’t named, though the Blue Oval only acknowledged the company is not from the United States and the problem is related to the ongoing health and economic crisis.
Now, a new report has surfaced, pointing out towards the main culprit – and it’s none other than Bronco’s removable top. According to The Detroit Free Press, the company even entertained the idea of manufacturing the 2-Door and 4-Door Broncos without its removable tops and have them sent out to dealers later.
That would be far from an ideal solution because a couple of things could happen. If the supplier (allegedly based in China) managed to sort out the issue and send the parts faster than announced, Ford would again have to rethink the schedule of deliveries. If not, the vehicles would simply remain on dealer lots awaiting delivery of the last piece of the puzzle...
According to reports citing official sources, Ford has decided to add further pressure on the already thinning patience of Bronco fans by pushing back the start of deliveries to next summer. That’s around a year after the model’s reveal!
Ford placed the blame for the hiccup on a supplier problem. The delay will affect more than customer deliveries, though. It includes the order bank moving to mid-January 2021 (from December 2020), a lengthened order conversion window through March, and manual transmission on Sasquatch pack scheduled late next year for 2022 model year.
Because it’s standard practice, the guilty contractor wasn’t named, though the Blue Oval only acknowledged the company is not from the United States and the problem is related to the ongoing health and economic crisis.
Now, a new report has surfaced, pointing out towards the main culprit – and it’s none other than Bronco’s removable top. According to The Detroit Free Press, the company even entertained the idea of manufacturing the 2-Door and 4-Door Broncos without its removable tops and have them sent out to dealers later.
That would be far from an ideal solution because a couple of things could happen. If the supplier (allegedly based in China) managed to sort out the issue and send the parts faster than announced, Ford would again have to rethink the schedule of deliveries. If not, the vehicles would simply remain on dealer lots awaiting delivery of the last piece of the puzzle...
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