Bronco production update 8/9: Commodity issues far beyond MIC tops. Chip shortage reaches Bronco supply chain (NO COVID TALK)

[Techun]

This.

Makes me think there are issues that aren't easily swapped...like engines, welds, paint, damage, etc...

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[Gr8Hortoni]

These are very expensive trucks, not a bunch of E.T. the video game cartridges.

Best 80’s reference ever.

 

[wsdowns]

You would think that Ford would definitely be able to say that they anticipate that they will not be able to build any more than xx,xxx orders and if your reservation number is above yyy,yyy that you are not likely to be built this year, and doubly so for the following constraint items.

Or even something as simple as we have assigned a total of xx,xxx number of VIN's and anticipate assigning yy,yyy more with zzz,zzz reservations remaining before moving forward to MY22.

But no, @Ford Motor Company can't even manage to be minimally communicative. You would think that they were on a ventilatator, unable to speak... Wait, I think that I figured it out... But we can't talk about that.

I think the issue is that they CAN build some of the lower models, so the reservation number is going to become meaningless. It would seem to me that Ford would just want to get any car they CAN build out the door. So, no 2 doors (since that requires a MIC top) and only 4 doors with Soft-Top.

 

[txozpilot]

Are you saying the Soft Tops will all be pushed to MY22 as well? I think at this point the best course of action would be to find a new supplier for both, since the soft top obviously has it's issues too and Webasto is at the root of both tops.

Exactly.. Webasto is done. They produce both so until they sort out another supplier there will be no significant deliveries

 

[txozpilot]

So they are going to cancel production of non built scheduled MIC top vehicles?

just curious- I win either way- I have an FE on order (not scheduled/no VIN) and a Badlands scheduled/VIN/MIC

That’s what I’ve heard

 

[TheHuntMan]

If anyone is interested I made “Bad Batch” Bronco badges. Some folk over on 6/30 build date have already seen these

 

[Gamecock]

Exactly.. Webasto is done. They produce both so until they sort out another supplier there will be no significant deliveries

That's actually good to hear if true...If BesTop gets the soft top cntract at least we could get some flat windows and a rigid enough structure that the cage doesn't get scratched every time you go up or down.

 

[txozpilot]

Sure is funny people are getting their window stickers and being built that are not FE's

But are the being delivered?
A window sticker may mean they had a plan to build, but due to current constraints they’ve decided to go another route.
It’s about how many end up in driveways and there’s not been a lot of that happening lately

 

[wsdowns]

LOTS of discussion here, and some of the options being brought up jive with *possibilities* being considered. AFAIK, there isn't a firm decision one way or another. All FEs will be built out in MY21 (and honestly those still awaiting a VIN and scheduling shouldn't be waiting too much longer). Some more MIC MY21s are probably going to be built, but I doubt we'll see them any appreciable numbers.

The main thing to watch is scheduling both this week and next (assuming they both end up happening as scheduled). How many members here will see their non-FE MIC units scheduled? If we see many (any?), that's a decent sign. I don't think we will.

Another kick in the sack is that from everything I've been told none of the purgatory units are awaiting any type of inspection any longer. They're just stuck waiting on solution(s).

I've caught wind of several alternatives being considered... some more drastic than others.



Quick note here to say THANK YOU! You guys contributed almost $500 since yesterday to help offset the looming $2,400 freight bill. We have some local businesses here who are interested in stepping up to help as well. If anyone else would like to contribute, we could definitely still use it.

Y'all are amazing.

Agreed. It's clear that they have maybe thousands (?) in the hold lot waiting for new tops, so those have to be prioritized (I don't see how they could possible be 'repaired'). Then FE's also need to be prioritized. That means no MIC tops for other new builds. I'm betting that we'll see 4 door soft-tops rolling off the line for the remainder of the year. If an order doesn't fit into that category it has to push to MY22.

 

[cowman]

But are the being delivered?
A window sticker may mean they had a plan to build, but due to current constraints they’ve decided to go another route.
It’s about how many end up in driveways and there’s not been a lot of that happening lately

Guess you didn't see the pic of 2 door hard tops on a truck in FL yesterday

 

[Monster1926]

Exactly - Ram was able to build two of these for me fully loaded in the last year while I waited for one Bronco. No way Ford is just sit by and lose truck market share.

Why didn’t you get a Jeep?

So they are going to cancel production of non built scheduled MIC top vehicles?

just curious- I win either way- I have an FE on order (not scheduled/no VIN) and a Badlands scheduled/VIN/MIC

i would put money that’s what theyre going to do. Full panic mode, let’s build what we said would only be built in 2021. Then worry about the others.

 

[Monster1926]

That's actually good to hear if true...If BesTop gets the soft top cntract at least we could get some flat windows and a rigid enough structure that the cage doesn't get scratched every time you go up or down.

I sense the value of my first edition going way up.

 

[wsdowns]

I’m not saying they scrap them. If there’s tops left over from the 12000 Webasto is building then maybe they ship some out, but if they have no good replacement tops then I don’t see them shipping anything until the new supplier is ready.

It would seem to me that it's in Ford's best interest to work with Webasto on the quality problems. You can't just turn suppliers on a dime (at least not at the quantity that would be required). An outright dumping of Webasto creates multiple problems - 1) Webasto has no incentive to help, 2) A new supplier has to come up to speed (will their quality be better, can they achieve the needed scale, etc.), and 3) Customers selected the Webasto top on their orders - I doubt you could just make a switch and not give a customer some options.

 

[Monster1926]

Agreed. It's clear that they have maybe thousands (?) in the hold lot waiting for new tops, so those have to be prioritized (I don't see how they could possible be 'repaired'). Then FE's also need to be prioritized. That means no MIC tops for other new builds. I'm betting that we'll see 4 door soft-tops rolling off the line for the remainder of the year. If an order doesn't fit into that category it has to push to MY22.

I hate to say this but any Broncos out in the yard that dont get repaired during the shut down week will be there until the next shut down week. Ford won’t keep the line down to repair vehicles in the float. They’ll use the new tops they have to build the vehicles running down the line. It’s very possible Broncos that get built later will arrive before Broncos that have been built sitting there.

 

[WillisC’onnors]

This.


I'll hint around where I can, but most of what I've heard has been single sourced and I can't risk burning them.

Ross, do you know what the other problem widgets are and can you tell us?



Thank you again.

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