2021 Ford Bronco Delayed Until Summer 2021
The automotive world’s most anticipated product is now delayed again. No, not the All-New Ford EcoSport. In a communication to dealerships, Ford confirmed that the 2021 Ford Bronco would be delayed until Summer 2021. The rollout change was forced by COVID-19 challenges that some of Ford’s suppliers are facing. In a communication sent to dealers that a tipster provided to TTAC, Ford also provided an update on some Bronco options.
Originally, order banks for the 2021 Ford Bronco were going to open on Monday, December 7. That date has now moved to mid-January. The conversion window, which is the period of time a Ford dealer and the buyer have to place a 2021 Bronco order, has been moved to mid-January through March 19, 2021. Orders must be placed by dealers, and customers will receive a delivery window in May 2021. First customer deliveries will now begin in summer 2021 instead of spring 2021.
Ford has made it clear that this delay is tied to a supplier issue. Coronavirus challenges have had a significant impact on a number of Bronco suppliers. Ford has not named these suppliers. Due to a high number of Bronco reservations, and COVID-19 related delays, Ford anticipates some Bronco reservations will be pushed into the 2022 model year. Previously, Bronco orders placed by September 18, 2020, would be built for the 2021 model year. Ford has not indicated if that date will change, but they have said that reservations will still be fulfilled in approximately the same order received.
This delay has also pushed back one of the 2021 Bronco’s most mythical options; the Sasquatch Package and manual transmission configuration, or Mansquatch, will not be available for 2021. If a buyer wants a 2021 Ford Bronco with the Sasquatch Package, it will be automatic-only. The seven-speed manual transmission will still be available on the 2021 Ford Bronco. However, much like Bigfoot, no one will ever see a 2021 Ford Bronco with the Sasquatch Package and manual transmission. That is, unless someone camps outside of Michigan Assembly Plant with a 16mm camera and films a grainy Patterson-Gimlin film style motion picture.
The other piece of Bronco news in today’s communication should please First Edition reservation holders. Ford has added a black interior option to the First Edition Bronco. To many First Edition reservation holder’s dismay, Navy Pier was originally the only interior option for First Edition Broncos. Ford would not confirm that Bronco Navy Pier interiors were Mercury Villager Nautica Edition interiors found in a Detroit area warehouse.
The 2021 Ford Bronco delays are unfortunate for customers, dealers, and Ford Motor Company. Enthusiast customers are growing impatient with the process, and want their vehicles. At the same time, Ford Dealers and Ford Motor Company would like to turn on the money printer that is the Ford Bronco.
The silver lining in the delays is that Ford may once again be focused on making Quality Job One. After the disastrous launch of the Explorer and Aviator, Ford needs to make sure core product launches are not plagued with quality issues. We’ll have to wait until next summer to see if they’ve figured it out.
[Images © 2020 Adam Tonge/TTAC]
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Nice piece Adam.
Ford only tends to have quality problems with clean-sheet design launches. The Bronco should be fine in that regard. The shame here is how long it took for this product will have taken to get out the door, especially since it's based on an existing Escape platform and drivetrain.