Posted on 07/08/2021 4:08:34 PM PDT by blam
Have you been waiting to buy a new pickup truck? You aren't alone. Ford would love to sell you a freshly built, 14th-generation F-150, but as we've written about already, it's not always that simple. Luckily, after months of watching stockpiles of unfinished trucks grow with no semiconductors available, the story is about to change. As the Detroit Free Press reports, Ford has sourced a supply of chips and will soon ship out thousands of 2021 F-Series pickups.
The supply chain shortage has made itself known across the market for both new and used vehicles, causing a scarcity of the former and skyrocketing prices of the latter. This is especially true for trucks, which makes Ford's acquisition of a sizable chip supply even more noteworthy. It seems like the parking lots full of pickups that you can see from space will be clearing out soon, then.
Ford hasn't said exactly how many trucks it plans to complete in the coming weeks, though The Drive has reached out for clarification there.
It's no surprise to hear that the F-Series is being prioritized by Ford, what with it being the country's best-selling truck for more than four decades. The Blue Oval automaker has chosen to idle plants across the States that build various SUV models and, yes, even its pickups, though there are plenty of F-150s, F-250s, and F-350s hanging around waiting on chips and chips alone.
Slumping sales numbers reflect the hardships inflicted by pandemic-related shortages; just look at the F-Series' year-over-year figures. In June 2020, Ford sold 65,188 units in the half-ton and up categories—this year, that's dropped 26.9 percent to 45,673. It's not due to a lack of demand, either, as owner forums buzz with talks of delivery dates and the like. It's not just Bronco fanatics who are getting impatient.
"We're working to get chips into F-Series pickups and get them out to dealers. That's our first priority," explained Erich Merkle, U.S. sales analyst at Ford, to Freep. "We'll see our inventories improve. It'll take time but stock will gradually start to improve the second half of the year."
Total F-Series sales numbers for the first six months of 2021 clock in at 362,032. That's just 1.5 percent lower than the same stretch from last year. It seems like recovery is possible, then, which would be more good news for Ford.
I think I heard that on Top Gear as well.
This past weekend thanks to dad, a torch and and a backhoe I got the body tub off a Willys jeep. The jeep was upgraded to an electronic distributor and was well worth doing.
I was just wondering if Ford had heard about the Chinese fake chips that they were exporting .... just asking.
I believe the leaders of Japan, Korea, and USA all tried to secure a supply of chips from Taiwan. Taiwan has been trying to increase production, but a drought hampered efforts earlier this year.
Americans used to make and design a lot of stuff.
Now we wait if someone else has problems with their manufacturing.
I wonder where these chips were supposed to go...
A few weeks ago I was reading where Chevrolet did not have chips available for their trucks that have that start/stop feature.
So they were having to sell trucks without it. Which is a very good thing for those individuals who buy those trucks.
Let me tell you. That is the most useless worthless feature ever designed for an automobile. Fortunately my Volkswagen has an easy disconnect button to keep the motor from switching on and off.
I mean where in the vehicle...
I was not very clear
I’m glad my old K5 only needs the HEI module in the distributor.
If only the bucket was driveable......
Yup. I thought you meant that maybe they were meant for say, cruise missiles, but, Ford way-layed them for their trucks.
The chips are all MIT (Made in Taiwan) I presume?
Seems to me that would wear out starters pretty quickly.
That “system” has been causing a lot of expensive engine problems.
Thankfully, most happen under warranty and the smart owners have it removed after the warranty expires but removal ain’t exactly cheap...
As the owner of a 2004 Z-71 extended cab, I think the newest Chevys are the butt-ugliest ones they’ve ever made!
There are hardly any cars on most dealerships’ lots in my area.
Everytime I start my Subaru I have to disable the Start/Stop feature. I don’t know anyone who likes it.
As the owner of a 2004 Z-71 extended cab, I think the newest Chevys are the butt-ugliest ones they’ve ever made!
————————————————
Agreed. I once had a 2005 Chevy 2500 crew cab with the 6.0 V8. I wish I still had it.
Where’s an automobile manufacturer to go when the chips are down?
I don’t know what that is (I guess my vehicle doesn’t have it). What is the purpose of it?
Taiwan is the top producer and the world is being held at gun point by the Communist Chinese.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.