⛑ Ford effectively assumes operational control of Webasto's Plymouth plant to help resolve Bronco top supply issue

[Meandeane]

Thanks for the news!
Stuff like this isn’t uncommon when contract manufacturers aren’t meeting their goals, glad Ford is stepping in to resolve it.

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[mrjerry469]

The raw material delay was very real and hid many of the systemic problems that were there all along.

Dayumnnnnnn fly me to Michigan put me up pay me a decent wage put me to work. I done everything from rank and file to senior management, crewing, finance, job picks. I do have a bad hand. But just get er done .

 

[NotApplicable]

no leaks, wind noise, wobbling/sqeaking noises while driving

Yeah sorry, no removable hard top will be immune to all those conditions. Maybe on day 1…

 

[sgraing1]

They need to move the plant here to South Carolina. No unions to worry about. BMW is having no delays either. Just saying.

**runs and hides**

Very low volume.

 

[Raptor911]

Whatever the issue, it will never spill over into the public domain unless litigation is involved.

Be happy that Ford understands the issue and is determined to fix it by spending millions.

The Bronco is prob the most important new vehicle launch ever for ford. They have already stated it is the most expensive launch ever.

I believe ford can fix it. If you don’t believe they can fix it then don’t give Ford your hard earned money.

Is it that difficult for Ford to be transparent? Is it just roof concerns? What about the commodities we keep allegedly hearing about? What is THE ROOT CAUSE. I don’t think Ford knows yet.

 

[Wookiee]

They need to move the plant here to South Carolina. No unions to worry about. BMW is having no delays either. Just saying.

**runs and hides**

If you’re simply referring to no unions in the upstate, you are correct. However when those shiny new Beamers get to Charleston, union hands are all over them. If you see an 18 wheeler with a box on it, chances are VERY high it was unloaded/loaded by a union member

 

[Skdmarc]

So this is great news but which is worse the leadership at webasto, which sounds like they just sucked from day 1, or Ford leadership who selected this inept company to handle their hottest product in 50 years and never checked how things were going on top production

 

[Jamiegla1]

this is the type of detailed and succinct messaging that I was hoping for. Thank you, sir!

 

[604Bronco]

Who makes it? Curt, Draw-Tite? Storm the facilities!

If this turns into another one of those “let’s storm Area 51” internet things I’m done… lol

 

[Lilj4425]

If this turns into another one of those “let’s storm Area 51” internet things I’m done… lol

I’ll bring the beer.

 

[MadMan4BamaNATL]

Sounds like a salesman at Webasto wrote a check the company couldn't cash. This is the same kind of thing GT Advanced Technologies did to Apple with Sapphire for the watch faces. Apple ended up taking control of GT and liquidating everything.

This scenario plays out all the time in business. If a company always waited until absolutely sure, nothing would ever be done and there would be no innovation.

Projections are just what you do. Sure, you try to do the math to ensure accuracy and efficiency, but sometimes, all the time, unknowns or unforeseens occur which cause you to adjust.

Just ask anyone who's served in the military about "planning vs. execution".

Why not change suppliers? Economies of scale, patents, tooling, training, testing, liability and risk. These are the reasons why standing by Wabasto is the best pathway forward, as they are close to a breakthrough with a little pushing.

Now, next go around, a new supplier may come online as others are no doubt approaching Ford with proposals, but you can't buy that in the middle of a campaign, as an analyst like me would nail you and your rating, thus killing your stock price.

It's just business, no one is trying to hurt any of us.

 

[chtucker]

There are several answers in this article, I wonder if they get the multi million dollar grant revoked and lose the local tax incentives, if they are still in business at that location after this.
Autonews

Behind a paywall for me

 

[NotApplicable]

If this turns into another one of those “let’s storm Area 51” internet things I’m done… lol

Or another one of those “let’s attempt a coup” things. Actually the fact that storming anything has even been jokingly suggested is probably reason enough to end the conversation, from a liability perspective

 

[JaxGtc]

They need to move the plant here to South Carolina. No unions to worry about. BMW is having no delays either. Just saying.

**runs and hides**

Thanks not completely accurate. My neighbor just bought an SUV with multiple "substitute" systems and features because of supply chain issues including the premium sound system that is not available. BMW provided a disclosure document that they had to acknowledge at purchase.

 

[604Bronco]

I’ll bring the beer.

If you didn’t, I’d be disappointed in you. Not “Webasto disappointed” though… that’d be too far.

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