It would be fair to say that Ford is having a good 2021. With four new vehicles coming into the automaker’s lineup, there is significant interest in what will be coming out over the next few years.
Along with the iconic Mustang and its electrified counterpart, Ford is introducing the following models through 2022.
- The electric 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning.
- A smaller version of the 2022 Ford Maverick hybrid pickup.
- An electric Ford E-Transit commercial van for 2022.
- The 2021 Ford Bronco SUV.
Reservations are substantial for all four models, with Ford announcing in June 2021 that it would take some time to fill all the orders.
Part of the reason for the delay involves the ongoing semiconductor chip shortage that affects all industries. Inventory levels might not reach normalcy until the end of 2022.
Ford Bronco Sold Out for Years as Orders Pour in for F-150
Over 190,000 customers have already reserved the reboot of the Bronco, which is one of Ford’s most rugged designs. The SUV has seen numerous launch delays, including supplier problems with its hardtops. Ford expects it to take at least two years to fill the current orders.
Ford formally announced the start of 2021 Bronco production on June 15th, 2021. Several delays have impacted this model, including plant shutdowns the month before because of the ongoing global chip shortage issue.
The biggest problem for the Bronco was the removable hardtops for the SUV. The component comes from Webasto, which struggled to meet its quotas because of COVID-related delays.
Although Ford promised owners that build dates would happen in May, most customers had their orders pushed back because of the supply chain issue. The update from the automaker at that time stated that a definitive delivery window was not available.
Ford called the hard top the “Achilles Heel” of the launch. They blamed an insufficient production capacity compared to the orders received.
Customers are receiving free access to the off-road driving experience to compensate for the ongoing delays with the Bronco. It’s a product called “Bronco Off-Roadeo.”
Drivers with a new Bronco can also attend vehicle-related events across the country for free. Although the gesture is nice, most people want the SUV in their garage instead of waiting for another email from Ford that says there is another delay.
Additional Vehicles Create New Opportunities for Ford
When the COVID pandemic struck the stock market, Ford’s value plummeted to below $4 per share. It was a shocking event that caused many to wonder if the automaker would even survive.
Since then, Ford has gone to quadruple its value at one point from that low. It created a 3-year high in the spring of 2021 when hopes for an economic recovery occurred, followed by stability around the $14 per share range.
Why is Ford having more success in recent days? It’s partially due to the remarkable F-150 Lightning.
This vehicle is shockingly priced at $42,000. It doesn’t go on sale until at least May 2022, but it has over 100,000 reservations for it already. About half of those numbers came through when the automaker introduced the truck to the public.
Ford also received 40,000 reservations in the first week the 2022 Maverick was revealed, along with 20,000 reservations for the E-Transit commercial van.
Although the delays are frustrating for customers, Ford has offered a promise that their competitors aren’t always doing. Instead of altering or redesigning vehicles to take out the features that require semiconductors, they’re waiting to give people the experience they expect when buying a Bronco, F-150, Maverick, Mustang, or another iconic model.
Ford Pro Creates New Commercial Opportunities
In a 2021 call with investors, Ford told people that the brand is concentrating on its commercial customers for the next fiscal year.
As a part of that commitment, the automaker created a business called Ford Pro.
With Ford Pro, customers receive global vehicle services and distribution to increase uptime while reducing ownership costs. The goal is to help the most productive businesses find ways to keep enhancing their bottom line.
Ford intends to offer a Pro version of its vehicles, including the all-new F-150 Lightning.
By designing Pro vehicles that share multiple parts, such as the F-150 sharing a motor with the E-Transit van, the idea is to streamline services to the greatest extent possible. Ford is even developing new battery cells within a joint venture that drop the cost by $20 per kWh after 2025.
Ford is also making money by dramatically increasing the parts supply for service vehicles. The biggest opportunity is to improve commercial vehicle sales, although the automaker already commands a 43% market share.
The company believes that more companies will switch to an all-Ford fleet instead of a mixed arrangement once they see all the improvements and changes coming in the next couple of years.
◼️ Ford Is Also Purchasing Electriphi
Another way that Ford hopes to help its commercial customers in the coming years is through the acquisition of the company Electriphi. They are a California-based provider of fleet monitoring and charging software.
This acquisition aims to ensure Ford’s commercial customers maintain their productivity by providing depot charging for electrified fleets. This option creates home charging opportunities, public station compatibility, and a telematics system that maps the locations.
Fleet managers can also better monitor their vehicles with this software.
Ford’s customers would need to sign up for the charge management services from Electriphi to gain these benefits.
What Are the Specs for the 2021 Ford Bronco?
The 2021 Ford Bronco delivers 83 cubic feet of 4-door cargo space with room for five comfortably. It provides 300 HP with the base model while offering several build choices to consider.
If you purchase the two-door model, the Bronco comes with a hard top molded in color. The four-door option uses a soft-top instead, but the hard top is an optional feature.
Additional standard features include configurable daytime running lamps, two tow hooks in the front (and a third in the rear), and a manual swing gate that delivers a 150-degree movement.
Those are in addition to the key features that Ford included with this SUV, making it such an affordable and intriguing design.
| 4×4 with Selectable Engagement: | • The 2021 Ford Bronco features ESOF (Electronic Shift on the Fly) technology with a two-speed transfer case as the base. • The part-time system lets the driver use three modes to fit the current driving conditions while having a neutral. • Each one increases wheel torque to handle grades, sand, or heavy pulling. |
| Removable Top and Doors: | • The class-exclusive side-view mirrors are cowl-mounted, allowing them to stay in place when you remove the doors. • Ford combines the open-air experience with a removable hard top or a folding soft top that comes standard on the two- and four-door models respectively. |
| 7-Speed Manual Transmission: | • When you’re ready to hit the trails in your Bronco, you can opt for the class-exclusive seven-speed manual transmission. • It features six standard tunings plus an extra crawler gear for your off-roading needs. • With a ratio of 94.75:1, it’s the best you can find in the industry today. |
Best SUV Off-Road Accessories to Use
When driving the 2021 Ford Bronco, you’ll find that the design is meant to deliver an impressive level of convenience and control. You can handle virtually any environment with ease, thanks to the transformation that goes from SUV to “Jeep.”
If you want to enjoy the off-roading experience even more, these additional products can add that extra touch of convenience for a day at the beach or in the mountains.
1. Spare Tire Trash and Gear Bag
The goal is to pack out what you take into nature. With this storage bag, you can keep over 15 gallons of equipment or supplies at the ready. It comes with a universal fit, allowing it to wrap around any outward spare with its heavy-duty straps and buckles. You’ll even get a D-ring that lets you hang the bag at your campsite.
The spare bag includes three pockets, including a primary one with a drawstring for security. Once you arrive, take it off the vehicle to use it as a backpack!
2. Bunker Indust Off-Road Traction Boards
Although the 2021 Ford Bronco can get out of most situations, you never know when trouble might happen. That sand might get too deep, or the mud can end up becoming too sticky. When you have these off-road traction boards, you can get the vehicle unstuck from almost any situation.
The secret to this product’s success is its unique shovel design. You can remove the sediment quickly, especially since it uses engineering-grade reinforced nylon as its core component.
3. GSPSCN Tire Inflator
When you take the Ford Bronco on the trail or use it to transport your bikes, you never know when a flat might occur. This heavy-duty tire inflator features dual cylinders with a portable bag and an adapter for vehicles. You can even use it to fill your air bed if you want.
It weighs less than seven pounds, but it can fill a standard vehicle tire in less than 20 minutes. That means your bicycle will be ready in seconds!
The two cylinders work simultaneously to compress the air to make it a powerful addition to your adventuring gear. It’s compact, efficient, and highly affordable.
Ford Is Looking Better Financially with These Options
Since demand is so high for Ford vehicles, especially with the Bronco and the F-150 Lightning, the Q2 earnings for 2021 were better than initially forecast. They’re also much stronger than the 2020 COVID year.
With costs lower and prices higher for Ford, their bottom line has seen significant improvements that should continue into 2022.
General Motors has a similar outlook as Ford’s primary competitor, with profits potentially $4 billion higher than initially forecast. GM also has autonomous and EV technology investments to the tune of $35 billion through 2025, adding two more battery plants and lithium harvesting capabilities to their portfolio.
It’s clear to see that the race is on to electrify passenger and commercial vehicles. Ford intends to win that race, especially when working for fleet managers and business owners.
I know I’m looking forward to seeing the Bronco and F-150 Lightning in action!
The 2021 Ford Bronco has an MSRP starting at $28,500.