Ford Market News

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Ford F-150 EV, Transit EV coming by mid-2022

Michael Martinez, Automotive News  /  June 10, 2020

DETROIT — Ford Motor Co. will offer battery-electric versions of its F-150 pickup and Transit van by mid-2022, COO Jim Farley said Wednesday.

It's the most detailed timeline yet for the company's electric vehicle plans and comes as Ford faces increasing competition in the EV space. The automaker previously said only that the Transit EV would be a 2022 model year vehicle and that the F-150 EV would be available in "the next couple years."

Both products are key to Ford's strategy of increasing its focus on high-margin, commercial vehicles. They face challengers on all sides, including electric startups such as Rivian and Bollinger Motors as well as traditional rivals such as General Motors, which is planning its own electric van, according to Reuters.

"With our knowledge and know-how, I like our chances against all comers as we go all-electric," Farley said at the Deutsche Bank 2020 Global Auto Industry Conference.

Farley and Ford CEO Jim Hackett used their conference presentation to highlight Ford's business strategy and update wary investors as it emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wall Street in recent days has continued to place high value on EV makers. Tesla Inc. stock has continued to soar, despite CEO Elon Musk recently signaling trouble ramping up Model Y production. And Nikola Corp., an aspiring EV commercial truckmaker, now has a higher market cap than Ford despite producing no revenue.

"I see opportunity for Ford," Farley said Wednesday on CNBC when asked about Nikola's market cap.

Production, sales updates

Farley said that in the three weeks since Ford resumed North America production May 18, the automaker has hit roughly 96 percent of its planned volume. It's in the process of adding shifts and overtime at plants around the country and expects to be at pre-coronavirus patterns by July 6.

Ford has said it expects to lose $5 billion in the second quarter because of the pandemic.

Hackett and Farley reiterated that Ford's upcoming launches of high-profile vehicles including the Bronco SUV, F-150 pickup and Mustang Mach-E electric crossover will be delayed by about the two months that its factories were shut down, but the automaker does not envision further setbacks.

Ford is preparing to unveil the next-generation F-150 this month, and it will reveal the Bronco in July. Both reveals were upended by the pandemic.

While Ford no longer publicly reports monthly sales, Farley said the company's May U.S. new-vehicle sales rose 44 percent compared with April — a sign that demand was returning following statewide shutdown mandates.

He said F-Series sales were up 5.3 percent year over year in May and that Ford gained an estimated 2.4 percentage points in pickup market share.

Farley said Ford had a roughly 73-day supply of F-Series pickups and has flipped "lots of units" from fleet to retail to keep up with a shortage of inventory on dealership lots because of the production halt.

The automaker is preparing to ramp down production of the current model as it changes over to the next generation, due out this year.

"We feel great about where we are on F-Series," Farley said.

VW deal signed

Ford earlier Wednesday announced that it had officially signed off on a partnership with Volkswagen Group to jointly develop a midsize pickup and commercial vehicles in Europe that it announced last year.

The two companies expect the alliance to yield about 8 million vehicles.

The automakers will collaborate on a city van built by Volkswagen, a 1-ton cargo van developed by Ford and a Volkswagen medium pickup built on the Ford Ranger platform, starting in 2022.

Ford will also make a new EV for Europe by 2023, built on Volkswagen's modular electric drive toolkit, and could deliver more than 600,000 units over several years.

"In light of the Covid 19 pandemic and its impacts on the global economy, more than ever it is vital to set up resilient alliances between strong companies," Volkswagen Group CEO Herbert Diess said in a statement. "This collaboration will efficiently drive down development costs, allowing broader global distribution of electric and commercial vehicles, and enhance the positions of both companies."

[kscarbel2]

Ford recalls 2.15 million vehicles for faulty door latches

Reuters  /  June 10, 2020

WASHINGTON -- Ford Motor Co. said Wednesday it will recall 2.15 million U.S. vehicles with potentially faulty door latches.

The automaker said the recall covers many Ford and Lincoln vehicles from the 2011-15 model years. The recalled vehicles may not have had all door latches replaced or correctly replaced when repaired by dealerships under recalls issued in 2015 and 2016.

Ford said a recalled vehicle with a faulty latch may unlatch while driving, but said it is not aware of any reports of accidents or injury related to the condition.

The company previously recalled more than 5 million vehicles for varying door latch-related issues since 2015 and has booked hundreds of millions of dollars in costs.

The recall covers some Ford Fiesta, C-Max, Focus, Mustang. Fusion, Escape, Transit Connect, Lincoln MKZ and MKC vehicles.

Ford said the latches have a part susceptible to cracking that in some circumstances can lead to doors failing to close. If motorists repeatedly attempt to close the door, it may temporarily close but could open during driving. 

[kscarbel2]

Owners sue Ford over faulty Mustang transmissions

Michael Martinez, Automotive News  /  June 10, 2020

DETROIT — Owners of 2011-2019 model year Ford Mustangs are suing the automaker for what they allege are defective manual transmissions that have caused the pony cars to slip, jerk and clash gears while shifting.

A suit seeking class-action status, filed last year in California and transferred last month to U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, alleges Ford knew about defects in the Getrag MT82 six-speed manual transmissions for a decade. Since 2011, the lawsuit says, Ford has issued seven special service messages and technical service bulletins related to shifting issues and other defects.

"The transmission is defective in its design, manufacturing, and or materials in that, among other problems, the transmission slips, jerks, clashes gears, and harshly engages; has premature internal wear, increased shift efforts, inability to drive, and eventually suffers a catastrophic failure," the lawsuit says. "Ford repeatedly failed to disclose and actively concealed the defect from class members and the public and continues to market the class vehicles without disclosing the transmission defect."

A Ford spokesperson said, "We typically do not comment on pending litigation."

The automaker has faced legal issues for years surrounding its DPS6 manual transmissions used in Focus and Fiesta sedans. Last year it extended the warranty on certain 2014-16 model year Focus and Fiesta cars with dual-clutch transmissions by two years and 40,000 miles, and this year reached a new settlement in a class-action lawsuit affecting nearly 2 million customers.

Ford began using the Getrag MT82 transmission in the Mustang for the 2011 model year, when it replaced the Tremec T5 and TR-3650 manuals.

It began receiving complaints shortly after the MT82 transmission's launch.

The lawsuit highlights a 2011 investigation into the MT82 transmissions by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA found 364 complaints related to the gearbox but eventually closed the case after Ford took action to correct the problems, and it concluded there was "no unreasonable safety risk associated with the alleged defect."

The plaintiffs include Brandon Lemons, who purchased a pre-owned 2014 Mustang GT in late 2018. He took the vehicle in for service in July 2019 complaining of a "grinding noise and a vibration through the shift knob."

The problem has gone uncorrected.

[kscarbel2]

Ford, VW to make about 8 million commercial vehicles

Reuters  /  June 10, 2020

The automakers will collaborate on a city van built by Volkswagen, a 1-ton cargo van developed by Ford, and a Volkswagen mid-sized pickup built on the Ford Ranger platform, starting in 2022.

Ford Motor Co. and Volkswagen Group said on Wednesday they would make up to 8 million units of medium pickup trucks and commercial vans during the lifecycle of the vehicles as part of an alliance announced last year.

The automakers will collaborate on a city van built by Volkswagen, a 1-ton cargo van developed by Ford, and a Volkswagen medium pickup built on the Ford Ranger platform, starting in 2022.

The No. 2 U.S. automaker will also make a new electric vehicle for Europe by 2023, built on Volkswagen's Modular Electric Drive toolkit, and could deliver more than 600,000 units over several years.

Ford and VW announced their partnership plans in January 2019, as carmakers around the globe join forces to invest in electric and self-driving technology to help save billions of dollars. VW CEO Herbert Diess and Ford CEO Jim Hackett formally announced their companies' partnership in July 2019.

[Maxidyne]

Ran across a news item yesterday that the FCA+PSA merger may need some divestment because the combined company would have 34% of the EU van market. Ford+VW would have 28% of the same van market, if the FCA+PAS merger is approved, will Ford+VW be next?

[kscarbel2]

Ford expanding near its Chicago assembly plant

Automotive News  /  June 10, 2020

CHICAGO -- Ford Motor Co. is expanding in Chicago after signing a lease for a big industrial building near its southeast side assembly plant.

The automaker has leased a new 359,000-square-foot building within a large industrial park under construction on the site of the former Republic Steel factory, said Tom George, vice president of acquisitions at NorthPoint Development, which is developing the property.

Ford, which signed the lease in late 2019, plans to use the building for “pre-assembly work” of components that will be delivered to the Ford factory about 1.5 miles away, he said.

George did not know how many people would work in the Ford warehouse, the first of as many as six large industrial buildings NorthPoint plans in the park. A Ford spokeswoman declined to comment.

The lease is good news for NorthPoint and the Chicago economy, which is reeling from the impact of the coronavirus. Government restrictions to slow the spread of the virus have forced many businesses to shut down temporarily and left many people without a job.

Ford idled its North American factories for two months in response to the pandemic, reopening them in mid-May. But a couple days later, the company shut its Chicago plant briefly after two workers there tested positive for the virus.

Ford expects to increase its production to pre-pandemic levels at its North American factories with weeks, but the automaker has forecast a $5 billion loss in the second quarter due to COVID-19. Still, George has seen no signs that the company is reconsidering its decision to move into the new building.

“They have been anxious to get in there, so I assume that’s still the case,” George said.

Before the pandemic, Ford made a major commitment to its Chicago operations, spending $1 billion to modernize the South Side factory, where is makes Ford Explorers, and a Chicago Heights stamping plant. The company employed a combined 6,500 people in the plants as of last June.

Kansas City, Mo.-based NorthPoint also made a big commitment to the Southeast Side, launching its $164 million plan to revamp the Republic Steel site last year. The city of Chicago gave the project a big push with a $52 million tax-increment financing subsidy. Its expected return on investment: 660 permanent jobs and 650 temporary construction jobs.

With 2.3 million square feet of buildings over 196 acres, the project, called the Avenue O Industrial Park, is the largest industrial development in Chicago since the creation of the 1.6 million-square-foot Ford supplier park next door more than 16 years ago. NorthPoint also owns the supplier park, whose tenants include Tower Automotive and Flex-N-Gate.

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[kscarbel2]

Ford's redesigned F-150 pickup will offer sleeper seat

Reuters  /  June 18, 2020

DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. next week will show the next generation of its brawny F-150 pickup truck that offers a new sleeper-seat feature and over-the-air software updates.

The new F-150, part of the best-selling vehicle line in the U.S., accounts for $50 billion in annual revenue, and a significant share of Ford's annual profit. While Tesla Inc and General Motors Co have moved faster on over-the-air software upgrades and high-speed in-vehicle data networks, the new F-150 will bring such technology squarely into the mainstream.

The new truck, expected to launch later this year, is a critical plank in Chief Operating Officer Jim Farley's plan to slash $5 billion in warranty costs, speed Ford's push into vehicle connectivity and add to the No. 2 U.S. automaker's already-strong position in the North American commercial vehicle market.

Automotive News in February reported on some of the new F-150's design ques.

Ford has borrowed more than $20 billion to ride out the economic shock from the coronavirus pandemic. Revenue generated from the new F-150 will be key to paying that money back.

Ford is not taking big risks with the exterior look of the new truck given its sales dominance, instead focusing on improving the interior, according to those who have seen it. Ford is scheduled to publicly show for the first time the new F-150 online on June 25.

"It's really about technology and productivity," Farley said at a Deutsche Bank conference on June 10.

One prominent feature will be the lay-flat passenger seat like those seen in first-class cabins on some planes, said a person familiar with the plans who asked not to be identified. "You can basically live in the truck," the person said.

Ford's nicer interior, including a larger display screen, follows a similar move by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles with its new Ram truck, which received enthusiastic reviews for its stylish interior and optional 12-inch display screen.

"Ram taught everybody a little bit of a lesson," said Rhett Ricart, owner of Ricart Ford in Columbus, Ohio. "The old 5-inch screen for your navigation and radio controls is gone. They're all going to be 10-, 12-, 15-inch screens. That was started by Tesla."

The F-150's new electrical architecture will allow Ford to provide over-the-air updates to key modules controlling the vehicle, replacing trips to the dealership.

The new truck's connectivity also will help Ford boost sales to commercial customers, and reduce warranty costs, Farley told investors.

The F-Series truck has been around since 1948, while the F-150 debuted in 1975. Sales of the current version have remained strong despite its age, and the new model could help Ford hold or even build its position in the segment, said Sandy Munro, CEO of Michigan-based consulting firm Munro & Associates.

"If they add the same stuff as what Ram did and if they can add more stuff like Tesla's doing, there'll be a gigantic gap between Ford, and Ram and Chevy," he said.

The key for Ford will be to avoid the kinds of costly production problems that hobbled the launch of the new Explorer SUV last year. Ford acknowledged it erred in trying to launch the Explorer and Lincoln Aviator simultaneously while breaking in a new assembly line at its 95-year-old plant in Chicago.

Farley has been visiting the plants in Dearborn, Mich., and Kansas City, Mo., that will build the new F-150. Despite delays related to the virus, he said the launch is in "really good shape."

[kscarbel2]

Ford’s F-Series Cash Haul Ranks Near iPhone Among U.S. Products

Keith Naughton, Bloomberg  /  June 24, 2020

Ford has a lot riding on the overhauled F-150 pickup it’s unveiling this week. Rather than shy away from the stakes, the automaker has given a look under the hood of its cash-cow truck franchise.

The almost 900,000 F-Series pickups sold last year generated about $42 billion in revenue. That ranks near Apple’s iPhone among the biggest U.S. consumer products. On its own, F-Series is larger than McDonald’s, Nike, Coca-Cola and Starbucks.

“It’s the crown jewels of the business,” says Hau Thai-Tang, Ford’s product development chief. The $42 billion revenue figure is almost 30% of the total Ford reported for its automotive business last year. “There’s no product more important for us, and when the F-150 chief engineer calls, he usually gets all the help he needs.”

Big Bucks

The F-Series line of trucks supports roughly half a million jobs and contributes $49 billion annually to U.S. gross domestic product. The truck’s economic impact was calculated by looking at how much employment and revenue is tied directly to Ford and indirectly to its suppliers, dealers and employees’ tertiary spending.

The F-Series stands out because it has a much higher price point than most other products. It’s quite remarkable how high the revenue is.

Ford’s new F-150 will debut on June 25. The automaker will offer a much larger touch screen to counter a popular option on Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’s ascendant Ram pickup models. Another prominent feature will be a passenger seat that lays flat.

[TS7]

I hear there is a 20+ week wait on ordering a  F-350 - F-550 now. I also hear that Ranger is out selling Chevy this month. Ford has been working hard to ramp plants up, no small task. 

[RoadwayR]

They need to do a much better job rolling out the new F-150, Bronco, and Bronco Sport than they did with the new Explorer.  The Explorer is a disaster. 

[kscarbel2]

Redesigned Ford F-150 offers hands-free driving, hybrid option

Michael Martinez, Automotive News  /  June 25, 2020

DETROIT — Ford Motor Co. is striving to maintain its full-size pickup dominance by redesigning the F-150 to incorporate — and improve upon — some of the most popular features that rivals have added in unsuccessful bids to dethrone it.

The 14th-generation pickup, unveiled virtually Thursday evening, is expected to offer best-in-class towing, payload, torque and horsepower when it hits dealerships as soon as November. The pickup will include functional tailgate upgrades, similar to what General Motors introduced on the GMC Sierra in 2018. Ford is adding a larger center touch screen, just as Fiat Chrysler added to its Ram 1500 in 2018. And the automaker is hoping to preempt a growing list of electric vehicle startups — including one that unveiled a prototype hours before Ford's reveal — looking for a slice of the profitable segment by offering a hybrid powertrain and mobile power generators across all trims.

The F-150, the highest-volume member of the industry's bestselling vehicle line for 43 consecutive years, will come with the next-generation Sync 4 infotainment system that features over-the-air updates. It also is expected to be the first full-size truck to offer a hands-free driver-assist feature once Ford activates the necessary software in the third quarter of 2021.

"We see it as our duty to deliver not just what our customers want and need, but what they might have never thought possible," Craig Schmatz, the F-150's chief engineer, said in a statement.

The next-generation of Ford's most popular product takes on added meaning during a pandemic that has hampered sales and cut into profits. Ford will look for the F-150 to carry an even larger share of its business moving forward as it slogs through a global restructuring.

Jessica Caldwell, executive director of insights for Edmunds, said the F-150 redesign marks a "pivotal moment" for the automaker.

"Ford may have more exciting launches with the Mustang Mach-E and Bronco on the horizon, but since the F-Series is what pays the bills, Ford needs it to succeed the most to get through this economic crisis and beyond," she said in a statement. "Ford has been under intense scrutiny from Wall Street for a number of years, so the pressure is on [CEO] Jim Hackett and team to get this right and inspire investor confidence."

Interior, exterior upgrades

From the outside, the 2021 F-150 doesn't look drastically different from the outgoing model. Still, designers made a number of updates.

They widened its stance by pulling out the wheels three-quarters of an inch, raised the front fender and increased the tire diameter. The truck is 3 percent more aerodynamic than the 2020 version and will come with 11 grille options and 13 wheel options, ranging from 17 to 22 inches.

The biggest changes are inside.

Ford added a bigger center touch screen: a standard 8-inch screen replaces the 4.2-inch screen on the XL and XLT models, while a 12-inch screen is standard on higher trims.

The screen comes in a horizontal configuration, in contrast to the widely lauded vertical screen in the Ram 1500, because Ford says customers preferred it and also wanted to keep buttons and knobs underneath.

The cabin features optional "max recline" sleeper seats for both the driver and passenger in the Platinum, King Ranch and Limited models.

Ford is offering an optional flat work surface that allows owners to work on laptops, sign documents or eat while parked. The shifter folds down into the center console to enable the flat surface.

"We know many of our customers spend a large portion of their day in the trucks," Schmatz said. "They want it to be both a productive workplace as well as a refuge."

Ford also upgraded its tailgate to help customers work better. Two new side cleats come standard, and Ford is offering an optional "tailgate work surface" design that includes a flat area to rest a laptop and an integrated ruler, cupholder, pencil holder and phone or tablet holder.

Hybrid power

The biggest change in the 2021 F-150 might be a new powertrain option: a 3.5-liter hybrid V-6. Ford calls it PowerBoost and hopes it can do for this truck what its EcoBoost engines have done for other vehicles in its lineup.

The powertrain, mated to a 10-speed transmission, includes a 35-kilowatt-hour electric motor near the engine and a 1.5-kilowatt-hour lithium ion battery in the rear.

Ford officials said they expect the hybrid powertrain, available on all trim levels, could account for 10 percent of F-150 sales.

Hau Thai-Tang, Ford's head of product development and purchasing, told Automotive News that the automaker began experimenting with an F-150 hybrid in July 2011 and began testing them on-road in 2012. A 2016 focus group first alerted developers to the fact that customers wanted more than just improved fuel economy.

"We've learned from the prior introductions of EcoBoost engines and the aluminum body that truck customers are willing to embrace technology if it delivers tangible functional benefits without trade-offs," he said. "We knew that if we introduced an F-150 hybrid, it had to be a no-compromise solution and would need to deliver on the 'Built Ford Tough' capability that our customers expect."

The PowerBoost hybrid is a rear-wheel-drive-based system that also can be configured for four-wheel drive for customers who need to haul or tow heavy loads. It's expected to get 700 miles on a tank of gas and deliver at least 12,000 pounds of maximum towing.

On-board generators

Ford also is adding mobile generators across the F-150 lineup. An available 2.0-kilowatt-output on-board generator with gasoline engines is enough to power heaters, TVs, blenders, minifridges or other accessories one might use for camping or at a tailgate, Ford said.

The hybrid pickup comes standard with a 2.4-kilowatt output generator — enough to power a jackhammer and compact cement mixer — that can be upgraded to a 7.2-kilowatt version.

In all instances, the power can be accessed through in-cabin outlets and up to four outlets in the bed.

Thai-Tang said that Ford discovered, through customer research, that many buyers would put auxiliary generators in their cargo boxes.

"These generators occupied valuable space, held only a few gallons of gasoline and could be loud during operation," he said. "Pro Power Onboard eliminates the need to carry a portable generator because it's now integrated with the truck."

Hands-free

Thai-Tang said Ford prioritized putting a hands-free driver-assist system in its F-150 over other vehicles, such as its Lincoln luxury lineup, because pickup customers often drive long distances on highways.

The feature, also planned for the Mustang Mach-E, will use infrared cameras, including a driver-facing camera in the steering wheel, to monitor alertness. So long as the driver is paying attention, the system can be engaged for hands-free operation on more than 100,000 miles of divided highways in all 50 states and Canada.

Ford officials said the system cannot be activated while an F-150 customer is towing anything, although that function could be added in later iterations.

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[kscarbel2]

 

[Red Horse]

4 hours ago, RoadwayR said:

They need to do a much better job rolling out the new F-150, Bronco, and Bronco Sport than they did with the new Explorer.  The Explorer is a disaster. 

No- WAS a disaster with the launch-or are you hearing of new problems.  Friend is a small dept LEO.  Love the first one they have and ordered a second this week

[kscarbel2]

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[RoadwayR]

Ford's getting a handle on some of the Explorer's problems, but I don't think they are quite out of the woods yet.  Aviator has been just as bad if not worse.  Could have done better in the IIHS small overlap crash test (didn't earn a Top Safety Pick rating) but otherwise performed well.  I wouldn't buy one for another year or two.

Ford probably isn't making a dime on these things yet, I hear after assembly Ford sends them to another plant for 'quality control'.

[Maxidyne]

Allowing owners to turn in vehicles they can no longer afford, even at a loss, makes a lot more sense than cat and mouse repos, ruined credit ratings, and the anger left behind by the customary adversarial repo battle. This is the smartest thing Ford's done in years!

‘Ford Promise’ Offers Peace of Mind to Potential Car Buyers and Lessees with One Year to Return Vehicle in Event of Job Loss

Jun 29, 2020 | DEARBORN, Mich.

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• Ford Promise allows eligible customers who lease or purchase a new or used vehicle through Ford Credit and then lose their job within a year to return the vehicle to Ford; customers will be covered for up to $15,000 of their remaining balance
• Offers customers peace of mind in the event of a job loss and a simple return process; enrollment period runs through Sept. 30
• Ford ad campaign will raise awareness about Ford Promise, focusing on the country’s desire to get moving again

Dearborn, Mich., June 29, 2020 – Ford is providing peace of mind to potential customers nervous about buying or leasing a new or used vehicles in an unsettled economy with a program that offers them the option to return the vehicle in case customers lose their jobs within the first year.

“We feel like right now, the economy is at the stage of recovery where people want things to be back to normal, they want to buy, but they’re still a little nervous about what the future holds,” says Mark LaNeve, vice president, U.S. marketing, sales and service. “We want them to know we understand that, and we’re here to support them in their buying decisions.”

Under the new Ford Promise program, customers who lease or purchase a vehicle with Ford Credit financing and then lose their job within a year can return the vehicle. Ford Credit will value the vehicle using the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) average trade-in value, reduce the customer’s outstanding balance by that amount and waive up to an additional $15,000. The customer is responsible for any difference remaining. In addition, the customer is responsible for any late or deferred payments due and vehicle damage. Once the conditions are met, the account is reported as closed and paid.

The ad campaign, which launches today, focuses on supporting consumers eager to move forward, says Matt VanDyke, director, U.S. Marketing. “Customers are realizing it might take a while for things to completely feel normal again, if in fact, they ever do.”

Research from Cox Automotive indicates that at least 32 percent of potential customers are delaying automotive purchases, citing market uncertainty and fears of unemployment.

“They need our support now more than ever,” VanDyke says. “And it’s here, in an offer that applies to both new and used vehicles leased through Ford Credit. It just shows there’s no better place to shop than at a Ford dealer.”

 

 

 

The program offers a simple solution to those who experience an involuntary job loss and are unsure how to meet their payments. Enrollment is open through Sept. 30.

A few other details:

• Ford Promise covers 2019, 2020 and 2021 purchased or leased new, used and certified pre-owned vehicles financed through Ford Credit.
• Vehicles must be for personal use only; commercial use contracts are ineligible.
• The complimentary protection begins 30 days after vehicle purchase or lease.

This initiative is the latest program by Ford that supports customers who may have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Ford Credit has a long history of helping customers affected by all types of economic setbacks,” says Marion Harris, CEO, Ford Motor Credit Company. “Now, we want to make sure that everyone who is considering purchasing or leasing a vehicle knows that this assistance is available.”

Other programs have included:

• The Built to Lend a Hand program that allowed eligible new car customers in the U.S. to defer payments for up to three months and Ford to pay for three months – providing up to six months of payment peace of mind.
• A Ford Credit program that allowed existing U.S. customers affected by COVID-19 to call Ford Credit and discuss options such as payment deferrals if they were having payment difficulty.

“Our programs are adapting and evolving as our customers’ wants and needs change,” says LaNeve. “Ford Promise is simple and streamlined – it allows our customers to get into a vehicle without having to worry too much about what the future holds.”

For more information, visit Ford Promise.

 

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification; mobility solutions, including self-driving services; and connected services.  Ford employs approximately 188,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.

[kscarbel2]

Ford to take $100 refundable deposits for Bronco

Michael Martinez, Automotive News  /  June 30, 2020

DETROIT — Ford Motor Co. will begin accepting $100 refundable deposits for the 2021 Bronco immediately after revealing the SUV on July 13.

The deposit essentially puts customers in line for the vehicle, allowing them to configure it and choose a dealership. Ford will convert those deposits into completed orders at a later date, when the customer confirms final pricing and specs.

The process is similar to what Ford offered with the Mustang Mach-E, although customers had to shell out $500 to earn a spot in line for the electric crossover, which hits showrooms later this year. The deposit trend was popularized by Tesla, which last year began accepting $100 refundable deposits for its Cybertruck. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said the company received more than 250,000 deposits.

The news of the refundable deposit first appeared on Bronco fan forums yesterday, and a Ford spokesman confirmed the plan to Automotive News.

Ford will unveil the Bronco, along with the smaller Bronco Sport crossover, on July 13. The reveal has been postponed twice since the original spring timing.

The Bronco is expected to go on sale early next year. Ford recently revamped its accessories business and hopes to offer hundreds of add-ons at launch.

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[kscarbel2]

Lincoln kills Continental, a $1 billion investment

Michael Martinez, Automotive News  /  July 1, 2020

DETROIT — Lincoln Motor Co. confirmed Wednesday it will end production of the Continental at the end of 2020 as the luxury brand abandons sedans.

U.S. sales of the Continental, reintroduced in 2016, slowed in recent years as customers shifted to the brand's growing crossover lineup. Lincoln announced this year that it would end production of its other sedan, the MKZ, at the end of the year.

"Lincoln is investing in growth segments and the brand will feature a full portfolio of SUVs, including a fully electric vehicle in the future," the brand said in a statement. "Lincoln will continue to keep its newest SUVs fresh and we will have more news to share later this year; however, as the full-size premium sedan segment continues to decline in the U.S., we plan to end production of the Lincoln Continental at the end of this year."

Lincoln informed workers Wednesday at the Flat Rock Assembly Plant that Continental production would end.

“We build to customer demand and customer demands are changing,” John Savona, Ford vice president, North American Manufacturing, said in a letter. “Lincoln is important to Ford Motor Company and we know it has a bright future.”

Lincoln brought back the Continental in 2016 as the flagship vehicle for a rebounding brand. It was one of the first models to feature Lincoln’s new mesh grille and was the first product to include 30-way massaging seats, which have become popular options on more recent models.

Sales hit 12,012 in 2017 but fell steadily from there. Officials attempted to juice sales with a hyper-limited run of coach-door models in 2019.

A spokeswoman said the brand would offer a 2021 Continental in China.

Origins

The Continental is among Ford's most revered nameplates. It joined Lincoln's lineup in 1939, when it was developed as a one-off vehicle for then-Ford President Edsel Ford, who had fallen in love with the long hoods, short trunks and rear-mounted spare tires of European sports cars on a recent trip overseas.

In 1951, the Museum of Modern Art called it one of the eight most important cars before World War II. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright considered the original Continental "the most beautiful car in the world."

It gained cachet through the 1950s and '60s as it was used in movies and boasted celebrity drivers such as Clark Gable, Rita Hayworth and Mickey Rooney. It also served as the limousine of U.S. presidents, notably carrying John F. Kennedy the day he was assassinated.

In total, nine generations of Continentals were produced before the nameplate was shelved in 2002.

Resurrection

Designers were thrilled when Ford officials informed them they’d resurrect the vehicle for the 2017 model year [at a cost over $1 billion].

Originally, they were told only that they were supposed to create a “large Lincoln.” When no standout designs emerged, the automaker’s leadership team told them they’d be crafting the next Continental.

“You could almost see an immediate change in the room,” then-Lincoln President Kumar Galhotra told Automotive News. “Right there was a very important lesson in the emotion behind the name.”

While the 10th generation vehicle failed to gain traction in a utility-heavy market, Lincoln's dealer council as recently as February was lobbying the brand to remain in the sedan segment.

"You only have to look at Tesla," Tom Lynch, chairman of the Lincoln National Dealer Council, told Automotive News. "If you have a strong product, people are going to want it, and they're going to want to buy it. What that looks like for Lincoln going forward, I'm not sure of."

[Maxidyne]

Again, Ford is telling Ford customers to shop somewhere else.

[Red Horse]

46 minutes ago, Maxidyne said:

Again, Ford is telling Ford customers to shop somewhere else.

Correct-brain dead.  when was the last time you saw an ad for a Lincoln Continental or an MKZ?  I  have a 3.0T MKZ.  400HP, AWD and it  gets typically 24 +mpg average driving.  I  reset it  yesterday for a short road  trip and it hit 30 MPG.  But have you ever seen an ad for one?  Truly if ever there was a "Hot Rod Lincoln" from the days of old this is it.  But no one knows  about it.

[Maxidyne]

Agreed, the V6 Continental will kick the ass of a lot of expensive German cars, but nobody knows about it. Ford is giving away a couple hundred thousand sedan, hatch, and wagon sales a year and those customers won't trade for an SUV or truck.

[Maxidyne]

Found a road test, 13 second quarters and over .9 G cornering put the Continental in some pretty fast company!

https://www.motortrend.com/cars/lincoln/mkz/2017/2017-lincoln-mkz-3-0t-awd-first-test-review/

[kscarbel2]

 

[kscarbel2]

Ford: Q2 volume off 33% with gains for just 2 nameplates

Michael Martinez, Automotive News  /  July 2, 2020

DETROIT — Ford's second-quarter U.S. light-vehicle sales fell 33 percent, slightly less than most of the industry, as it was battered by the coronavirus pandemic and a massive drop in fleet orders.

Sales to daily rental companies plummeted 94 percent during the quarter as demand for such services dried up, with a majority of people under stay-at-home orders. Additionally, Ford has been directing whatever inventory is available after a two-month plant shutdown away from rental and into retail channels.

Commercial sales fell 78 percent but increased sequentially through the quarter. Ford officials said the automaker has seen very few canceled commercial vehicle orders and expects to begin filling them as the year continues.

Ford said retail sales in the quarter fell 14 percent, although its retail share grew an estimated full percentage point to 13.3 percent.

"Retail for the industry was a lot better than people would have thought back in March," said Mark LaNeve, Ford vice president, U.S. marketing, sales and service.

Sales of F-Series pickups, the automaker's most popular vehicle line, dropped 23 percent in the quarter, although Ford said it grew an estimated 2.6 percentage points in retail share.

Ford last week unveiled a redesigned F-150 pickup that's expected to go on sale this year. Ford is planning to stagger the launch at its Dearborn. Michigan, and Kansas City, Missouri, assembly plants so it can continue building the outgoing pickup at one as the other factory changes over to the new model.

Overall, Ford Motor sedan sales dropped 60 percent, SUV deliveries fell 30 percent, and pickup/van volume fell 27 percent during the latest period. All but two nameplates — the Ranger mid-size pickup and Explorer SUV — posted sales declines.

LaNeve said he's hopeful that Ford and the rest of the industry will continue to recover in the third quarter, although the automaker is monitoring states where coronavirus cases continue to rise. LaNeve said he just returned from a tour of 10 dealerships and was impressed with the social distancing measures they have implemented.

"There's no way for me to predict it," he said. "We've had almost no reports of outbreaks within our dealerships. If the governors close those states down, there's nothing we can do about it. But we're looking for the business to continue moderately improving, and we're hoping for the best in terms of containing the virus."

Brands: Ford, down 34%; Lincoln, down 18%

Notable nameplates: Ford F-Series, down 23%; Mustang, down 27%; Escape, down 49%; Expedition, down 42%; Transit, down 57%; Explorer, up 12%; Ranger, up 20%; Fusion, down 55%; Lincoln Navigator, down 37%; Nautilus/MKX, down 39%; Corsair/MKC, down 8.3%

Incentives: Ford, $4,127 per vehicle, down 3% from a year earlier; Lincoln, $6,937 per vehicle, up 7%, ALG says.

Average transaction price: Ford, $42,613, up 12% from a year earlier; Lincoln, $56,641, up 7.1%, according to ALG.

Inventory: Ford ended the quarter with a 75-day supply of vehicles, according to officials.

Quote: "Our performance in Q2 was really driven by Ford and our dealers' deep commitment to customers and quick action taken to support our customers during these unprecedented times. Our support programs continue with our recent introduction of 'Ford Promise' to provide extra security during these difficult times. It's another way Ford is standing with hard-working Americans," LaNeve said.