Ford to reduce Bronco production [ADMIN WARNING: NO POLITICS]

[Kevin Scarbel]

Ford is dialing back Bronco production amid rising inventories and a slowdown in sales, reassigning 400 workers who build the Bronco at the Michigan Assembly Plant to nearby locations.

A recent Ford memo to workers at the Bronco (Michigan) assembly plant states its plans to reduce the line rate to better serve customer demand for Bronco.

The Bronco (Michigan) assembly plant will be idle for 2 weeks in January to prepare for the 2025 model year changeover, while 400 workers will be relocated to either the Dearborn engine plant, or Monroe parts warehouse, though Ford will retain 3 Bronco shifts, regardless.

These moves will be made in Q1 2025, and no workers will be laid off as a result.

Ford dealers view the sales drop as a normalizing of supply and demand after many customers waited years to take delivery of their new Bronco after the 2021 launch.

Sponsored

 

[N0madK1ng]

Innnnnnnttttttteeeeeeeerrrrresssstttttttiiiiinnngggggg.

Thanks for the info.

 

[crenca]

I can't help but wonder if they would just rationalize pricing they would keep sales strong.

 

[11811]

Will be interesting to see the Nov and Dec production numbers.

 

[Drizz]

I can't help but wonder if they would just rationalize pricing they would keep sales strong.

The unfortunate flip side of this will be dealers can once again point to limited inventory (look, I don't have any on the lot!) to justify MSRP or even a markup.

 

[Kevin Scarbel]

Not a scientific study by any means, but my research plainly shows the Wildtrak was becoming extremely popular. Therefore I am shocked to see the Wildtrak trim level cancelled for MY2025. Perhaps customers simply like the name, or those black wheels. Regardless, the Wildtrak trim was seeing an impressively growing customer uptake, adding to the Bronco brand's success and Ford's profitability.
And that is just one of Ford's MY2025 mistakes.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Not a scientific study by any means, but my research plainly shows the Wildtrack was becoming extremely popular. Therefore I am shocked to see that trim level cancelled. Perhaps customers simply liked the name, or those black wheels. Regardless, the Wildtrack trim was seeing an impressively growing customer uptake.
And that is just one of Ford's MY2025 mistakes.

I kind of thought the same thing.
Lots of folks like the high end trims and being able to start out pretty well loaded just by selecting the WT kind of makes sense.
I understand the thought process, even though I'm a Base type buyer. LOL

 

[BDLNDZ]

I was surprised to see the Wildtrak cut as well. A few in our group. I get eliminating Everglades & Black Diamond. Really, there were just too many trims, IMO.
I can understand a Base trim, Badlands, Heritage and Raptor.
Big Bend & Outer Banks? Pick one.
As I understand it there are basically 3 suspensions, so why not let folks who are ordering choose everything else based off of that?
I'd love a Raptor... just not at that price.

 

[Ninjak]

I can understand why they cut the Wildtrack out of the line-up. What was a Wildtrack? Befre the 3.0 shocks, it was a "desert runner" with no disco. Then it received the Fox 3.0 shocks. Still not a huge difference from a Badlands.

It was far easier IMO to cut the Wildtrack and just offer the 3.0 shocks for the Badlands. With that trim, you can have the choice for the shocks make it a desert runner, and you would still have the disco for the rock crawlers.

 

[11811]

Thinking that there is a finite number of people willing to accept the poor gas mileage of most Broncos. Rather Ford adjust production to regulate supply than drop the price and flood the market. A significant reduction in MSRP and then ford is converting Bronco Sport buyers into Bronco owners and Bronco Sports pile up in dealer lots. Current prices keep Bronco owners special. You'll never ever see 5 on the road while driving around town at this rate. There are way too many Jeeps on the road today.

Snag a 2024 while they are laying around on lots. Think this is going to be the only window to get a big deal on a Bronco.

 

[indio22]

I can understand why they cut the Wildtrack out of the line-up. What was a Wildtrack? Befre the 3.0 shocks, it was a "desert runner" with no disco. Then it received the Fox 3.0 shocks. Still not a huge difference from a Badlands.

It was far easier IMO to cut the Wildtrack and just offer the 3.0 shocks for the Badlands. With that trim, you can have the choice for the shocks make it a desert runner, and you would still have the disco for the rock crawlers.

Although most owners probably do no desert running or rock crawling. I think Wildtrak was popular because it was considered top of the line, and it's common now for people to spend big on that sort of thing.

 

[mpeugeot]

Ford just figuring that out... LOL. Ford is about 1 year late in over-estimating the production, with nearly 40k Broncos sitting around and waiting for homes...

They need to start an ad campaign with that Sarah McLachlan song "Angel" with abused Broncos sitting on dealer lots.

 

[Beach_Bum]

I checked in with the Stig-ette and she confirmed the news. She has gone further and expects the 3rd shift to be axed by summer. This move is a volunteer first and force low man next.

 

[Squatch]

Not a scientific study by any means, but my research plainly shows the Wildtrack was becoming extremely popular. Therefore I am shocked to see the Wildtrack trim level cancelled for MY2025. Perhaps customers simply like the name, or those black wheels. Regardless, the Wildtrack trim was seeing an impressively growing customer uptake.
And that is just one of Ford's MY2025 mistakes.

I'm not sure I can trust your "research" when you can't even spell Wildtrak...

It's basically an OBX with Sasquatch Package, so... what are we missing out on?

They killed the two-door like some Ford exec got tweaked over snide comments about their off-road minivan and wanted revenge!

 

[Monster1926]

What’s going to happen is a derate, the line will be slowed down they will cut and combine jobs to make the bronco more profitable with less people. Quality will suffer.

Sponsored