Bronco SUVs in production at Ford’s Michigan Assembly plant, June 14, 2021.
Michael Wayland | CNBC
DETROIT – Ford Motor is delaying customer deliveries of its electric Mustang Mach-E crossovers and some Bronco SUVs – two of its most large-profile new vehicles – thanks to production difficulties.
The automaker verified Thursday it has determined a difficulty with the molded-in color hardtop roofs on hundreds of Ford Bronco SUVs constructed to day, which will negatively effects production and hold off deliveries to buyers by months. The roofs are made by car provider Webasto.
The motor vehicles have a excellent challenge that can make an “unsatisfactory physical appearance when exposed to extraordinary drinking water and humidity,” in accordance to messages to dealers and clients that were confirmed by a enterprise spokesman. It does not impression the function of the motor vehicle, according to Ford.
Recent entrepreneurs are predicted to be sent a replacement roof free of charge of demand starting in Oct. Buyers who are nevertheless waiting on their orders will be notified of their new predicted delivery day in the coming months. Some orders will be delayed from the 2021 design calendar year to the 2022 product calendar year, according to the corporation.
“As a result of continued roof difficulties, we will be generating less 2021 product 12 months Bronco motor vehicles than to begin with planned,” Ford said in a person of the messages that was posted on an on line Bronco discussion board.
The roof issue will come days right after Ford verified it was planning to notify foreseeable future Mustang Mach-E shoppers that delivery of their autos may be delayed at least six months owing to a international lack of semiconductor chips.
“The world-wide semiconductor scarcity continues to have an impact on international automakers and other industries in all pieces of the world,” Ford claimed in a statement. “We are working intently with all of our essential suppliers to tackle manufacturing constraints tied to this world-wide semiconductor scarcity so we can carry on to construct Mach-E cars, and get them to our prospects as quickly as we can.”
Ford and other automakers have appreciably slice output this year because of to the chip scarcity, which consulting agency AlixPartners estimates will price tag the vehicle industry $110 billion in earnings.
Ford spokesman Stated Deep stated the expense to replace the roofs and other steps “are not materials.” In July, Ford raised its expectation for whole-calendar year modified earnings right before taxes by about $3.5 billion, to in between $9 billion and $10 billion.