Bronco Production Update From MAP - July 19th 🏭

[hoss]

1. Ford

2. Ford (and they own the tooling)

Actually that puts Ford in a good position right now. Improves the options available.

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[PREMiERdrum]

@PREMiERdrum Can you shed light on the last week of June Blend Dates that have been “In Production” for a month? Are these built units simply awaiting decent tops as we are all assuming, or is it shipping overload? I appreciate any insight you may have. Thanks a ton for what you’ve already provided.

Extended inspections, many replacement tops, and blending into a shipping backlog.

 

[WillisC’onnors]

Extended inspections, many replacement tops, and blending into a shipping backlog.

I’m guessing that means those still scheduled for this week with MIC will be built then ^ or will they be built with good tops?
Thanks

 

[Benzo520]

My Wildtrak was supposed to be built today but I can understand if they’re a day or 2 behind. I’m ok with getting a slightly defective hard top as long as Ford is making it right in the future. And honestly I’ll be driving with the top off majority of the time so it’s not the biggest deal to me how the hard top comes in. Just hoping it doesn’t get held at the plant for this issue because let’s face it, we’ve been patient for over a year and want our rigs

 

[midwestpilot]

Enough about bad roofs, late scheduling, and multi-week gate holds to check the roof panels, okay? The fine men and women of MAP are ramping up at an exciting pace to get as many of your builds out the door as possible.

The current pace of production is seeing nearly 900 units daily roll off of final assembly as we sit just 2 weeks away from "full blend" line speed. That 900 figure is split between Bronco and Ranger, currently running about a 60/40 split. Bronco's body shop has been pushing out as many as 300 rigs per shift, as they are running ahead of final a bit on speed. Units are only going to paint when there is room for them on final after, so there will be some ebb and flow here.

We've all been let down by the issues surrounding the MIC tops - my own included - and I have to believe that there is a fix in the works. All I can say for certain is that issues are being documented thoroughly and I expect some customer-facing movement on this soon.

As you've seen, production mix for the coming months is shifting outside of demand for hard tops (and all 2 door units). There was optimism in the last 6 weeks when output at the Plymouth plant ticked up a bit, but the multiple issues with delivered roof units has popped that balloon quite quickly. I can't say for sure what the final mix will be, but dealers are being asked to program retail stock builds (all 4 door soft tops, mostly base and Big Bend trims) so that MAP has a pool of backup builds in case they run out of buildable units. They will NOT build appreciable stock units IF there are buildable customer units in the queue. It's just a matter of what they're able to build.

IF you're lucky enough to get a hard top Bronco delivered, document the heck out of your roof at delivery. Take pictures of the entire inside and outside in detail. Note any inconsistencies - however small - so the dealer has record of it for when a solution becomes available.

The more I hear from my folks and spend time watching how my roof is reacting to everyday use, it's becoming sadly apparent that the design might only work if manufacturing were 100% perfect.. and even then it's iffy. Specifically, the raw edges where all 3 layers are cross-sectioned is just begging for material loss from the core (mine has happened in a pretty dramatic fashion in the last 3 weeks), leaving little cavities where water can accumulate and cause havoc when the weather shifts.

Annoying roof issues aside - that I'm confident Ford will address - these rigs are sweet. They're fun an engaging to drive, they're comfortable to live with, they do what you ask them to without any protest, and they catch the eye of everyone around you.


Q&A:



With all that I've been told (much of which I've shared with you, but certainly not all), the part is very difficult to manufacture under ideal conditions, and some of the final design designs - notably the raw exposed cut edges - are questionable.

That Webasto is an absolute dumpster fire (and that's insulting to campus parties down the street at THE Ohio State University) just took a small issue and turned it nuclear.

Do you expect that they may drastically change the design of the roof or continue to refine current design? Seems worrying they’d push production with a roof that has major engineering design issues

 

[MacDonald_Photo]

Who do I talk to so I can just take delivery of my MIC top regardless of condition? I'll sign something saying I take full responsibility. I just want to drive my Bronco!
Or I can order a soft-top later too or something

 

[vrtical]

Thank you for the detailed update. I am on the fence what to do.

 

[Bronco4lyfe85]

This entire launch is a fucking disaster. I’m laughing at how pathetic this is while I’m crying.

 

[Erock]

Dammit man, I feel for ya. Great job you’re doing with all the info... but I don’t envy you in the slightest. Hope they get your top sorted out soon. Best wishes.

 

[RogueSqdn]

@PREMiERdrum, I have a FE with an 8/9 build week. With these MIC issues, should we expect to be pushed back?

 

[thatspecialbeat]

I guess we can start speculating on what % of 2 door reservations can be produced in 2022.

Also, we can use this extra time to lobby congress to repeal the secret law banning 2 door soft tops direct from the factory.

 

[Compta38]

With this news I would be so surprised if Ford handed out any VINs next week that had MIC tops. It just wouldn't make any sense. They need to slow Webasto down, make good hartops for people with VINs they already handed out. Then stop totally and get the problem fixed ASAP. Just crazy, literally the slowest train wreck any of us have ever seen.

If Webasto goes any slower they won't be making any tops. I'm 100% convinced that place only has clowns working there, from the CEO to the guy that cleans toilets.

 

[Evolkidbell]

What about those that have been built but not delivered yet?

We might be in limbo for awhile.
I don’t think anyone from last weeks build group (week after shutdown) has seen a MIC order get a “Built” email. The limbo group from 6/28–7/2 are from the week before the shutdown, so we may be all in the same boat.

 

[PREMiERdrum]

Answering a big question that a lot of you are asking- Scheduled builds have not been impacted by top issues (for better or worse). If you have a build week, or even better a specific date, your rig will be built as ordered. Check your MIC top closely when you take delivery and make sure your desler logs any imperfections. I have faith that a fix will be on the way.

 

[Balthezor]

Enough about bad roofs, late scheduling, and multi-week gate holds to check the roof panels, okay? The fine men and women of MAP are ramping up at an exciting pace to get as many of your builds out the door as possible.

The current pace of production is seeing nearly 900 units daily roll off of final assembly as we sit just 2 weeks away from "full blend" line speed. That 900 figure is split between Bronco and Ranger, currently running about a 60/40 split. Bronco's body shop has been pushing out as many as 300 rigs per shift, as they are running ahead of final a bit on speed. Units are only going to paint when there is room for them on final after, so there will be some ebb and flow here.

We've all been let down by the issues surrounding the MIC tops - my own included - and I have to believe that there is a fix in the works. All I can say for certain is that issues are being documented thoroughly and I expect some customer-facing movement on this soon.

As you've seen, production mix for the coming months is shifting outside of demand for hard tops (and all 2 door units). There was optimism in the last 6 weeks when output at the Plymouth plant ticked up a bit, but the multiple issues with delivered roof units has popped that balloon quite quickly. I can't say for sure what the final mix will be, but dealers are being asked to program retail stock builds (all 4 door soft tops, mostly base and Big Bend trims) so that MAP has a pool of backup builds in case they run out of buildable units. They will NOT build appreciable stock units IF there are buildable customer units in the queue. It's just a matter of what they're able to build.

IF you're lucky enough to get a hard top Bronco delivered, document the heck out of your roof at delivery. Take pictures of the entire inside and outside in detail. Note any inconsistencies - however small - so the dealer has record of it for when a solution becomes available.

The more I hear from my folks and spend time watching how my roof is reacting to everyday use, it's becoming sadly apparent that the design might only work if manufacturing were 100% perfect.. and even then it's iffy. Specifically, the raw edges where all 3 layers are cross-sectioned is just begging for material loss from the core (mine has happened in a pretty dramatic fashion in the last 3 weeks), leaving little cavities where water can accumulate and cause havoc when the weather shifts.

Annoying roof issues aside - that I'm confident Ford will address - these rigs are sweet. They're fun an engaging to drive, they're comfortable to live with, they do what you ask them to without any protest, and they catch the eye of everyone around you.


Q&A:



With all that I've been told (much of which I've shared with you, but certainly not all), the part is very difficult to manufacture under ideal conditions, and some of the final design designs - notably the raw exposed cut edges - are questionable.

That Webasto is an absolute dumpster fire (and that's insulting to campus parties down the street at THE Ohio State University) just took a small issue and turned it nuclear.

Ross, are we getting more email builds this week? Particularly 2 doors? Thank you!

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