📣 Ford announces MIC hardtop solution (program 21B49): unscheduled orders will get MY2022, delivered & built Broncos will have tops replaced

[Brongo]

Agree. They didn't want/plan things to go this way. Of course they would want a successful launch.

But still, we can't commend for their communication. We're getting our info from a third-party forum (thankfully).

Instead of the "Stay Pumped" messages, posters, and nonsense, Ford could have been way more transparent leading up to this.

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[Bronco4lyfe85]

Knew this was coming.

 

[survivormanca]

Customers impacted won't get a letter until the end of August.

 

[Justin_Kane]

Made this notice into a PDF if anyone is interested. Easier to read and search.

 

[KTP 30]

Ok… For everyone wildly throwing around comments and opinions on this with no basis let me give you my thoughts on this…

First, I’m a former process engineer with an automotive supplier who worked with all the manufacturers. In an 18 month period I brought on a new facility expansion with 35 work centers and 22 new vehicles including the first generation Ford Edge. I have some insights/experience in this.

1) Webasto did not get the normal ramp up period a supplier gets. COVID cut into it when their facility was delayed. Many issues would of been worked out before Build #1 if this had been normal times.

2) Everyone assuming Ford just decided this week to redesign the tops, I highly doubt this. For an issue this size, I’m sure Ford and Webasto have been working multiple contingencies. I’ll even wager that the new top has already been produced in a normal production environment on the production equipment (ie not a prototype under ideal conditions). This leads me to my next point…

3) The timeline given sounds about right for getting the new tooling in place. Not redesign/testing/production ramp up . Might even be using the same tooling with modification. Also, the molds in this application wear out with time, they are constantly being reworked/refurbished/repaired. New tooling in this case is not a big deal.

4) Give the people involved with this a break. I’m betting they have been working non-stop, 80 hrs weeks and are beyond exhausted. When I did this work it was not uncommon for me to come home at the end of the day, lay down in the middle of the living room floor and fall asleep. You don’t know what this is like and frankly, most of you aren’t up to handling it.

Ford has been building vehicles for over a 100 years. They drop the ball! Fire them all!

 

[RockSkipper]

That is a new hardtop supplier for the Modular hardtop (available 2023) not the MIC hardtop.

Now will Ford dump Webasto at the end of this shitshow? Who knows. Sounds like this problem is more to do with Ford's design and less to do with Webasto's manufacturing ineptness.

I just glanced at their website..."a GLOBAL" solution expert to vehicle cooling solutions...gheesh.

I was hoping they would go to Besttop from the start...but have a feeling they would not be able to keep up with the demand and could have a non-compete with Jeep

 

[First Edition Sport 51]

Don‘t worry…. Bronco scented candles are set to be delivered tomorrow to soften the blow.

That’s hilarious!

 

[Smuck]

Probably the reason that 22lb package saying sorry about the hardtop is being sent.

 

[adbennett]

As bummed as I am, I’m going to continue to hold out for what I want and not adjust my build. I’ll just use this time with no car payment to save and pay off anything outstanding I have.

Can I afford a $60k vehicle right now — absolutely. Do I need a $60k vehicle right now —no.

still sad though but the writing has been on the wall.

 

[Brongo]

Don‘t worry…. Bronco scented candles are set to be delivered tomorrow to soften the blow.

Oooh, the smell of burning marine grade vinyl will be soothing!

 

[balucipher]

soft top gang just got pushed up in the queue

 

[CJay]

 

[xcxv]

22lbs package is a 10kg worth of scrap V1 MIC Top showing how bad it is. It’s a collectible edition.

 

[BigTex]

The price might go up for the immediate future but not really for the long run. It wouldn't be stupid to cancel, and I wouldn't blame anyone for doing so. They are going to be delivering these MY21 FEs in 2022 like it's somehow an acceptable solution. Spoiler alert- it's not. That alone kills resale.

As previously stated, I will gladly take you FE

 

[Mr. Nice]

Can anyone decode what "price" protection means for "similarly equipped" vehicle? (last paragraph)

Same model?
Same options?
Same color?
Are we only locked in for the exact one that was ordered?

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