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Ford Recalls Nearly 185K F-150s

Ford announced it’s recalling almost 185,000 F-150 full-size pickups. The 2021 and 2022 model-year trucks are experiencing driveshaft problems that could cause it to fracture.

All-new F-150
Ford is recalling nearly 185,000 F-150 pickups from the 2021 and 2022 model years.

The issue only affects certain F-150 Crew Cab 4×4 pickups, according to the filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The company’s began examining the issue since July.

The truck’s underbody thermal/acoustic insulators can loosen over time. If they come in contact with the truck’s aluminum driveshaft, they can cause scoring or marks. If this goes on long enough, the heat generated each time can eventually crack the driveshaft.

Potential results if the issue is not repaired

“A fractured driveshaft may result in loss of motive power,” the report states, “unintended vehicle movement while the vehicle is in park if the parking brake is not applied, and may result in secondary damage to surrounding components.”

Additionally, once fractured, the driveshaft could break loose and touch the ground, causing the driver to lose control of the pickup, potentially resulting in a crash. The company is unaware of any accidents or injuries caused by the problem.

2021 Ford F-150 - at work site
Some Ford F-150 pickups are facing issues with the aluminum driveshaft on the truck.

Owners are advised to look for a “loose underbody insulator.” They should also listen for a rattling, clicking or clunking noise due to the loose insulator coming in contact with the driveshaft. The scoring or marking on the driveshaft described earlier may also be visible.

Next steps

Ford’s taken steps to resolve the problem during production by swapping the underbody thermal acoustic insulator for an under-carpet thermal patch at the two plants — Dearborn (MI) Truck and Kansas City (KS) Assembly — already.

Dealers received the notice Tuesday, and owners will begin receiving notices in the mail shortly. They will be instructed to make an appointment with their dealer to have “positive attachment features adde to the underbody insulators.”

They’ll also inspect the driveshaft for scoring or marks that may have already occurred. This will be done at no expense to the truck owner.

As of Dec. 7, Ford received 27 reports of fractured aluminum driveshafts possibly related to sagging underbody insulators on the F-150s, the automaker said in an Automotive News report.

Ford Partners with CARB to Secure Green EV Charging

Charging is key to the transition to electric vehicles and while more chargers are one the way, Ford Motor Co. is launching a new program to ensure the juice needed to run an EV does not contribute to the emission of greenhouse gases. 

Ford debuts 2020 Escape PHEV
Ford’s program can be used by current owners of the Mustang Mach-E, E-Transit and Escape PHEV.

With help of one auto industry’s traditional foes, the California Air Resource Board, Ford is beginning what it describes as a “sustainable charging program,” which allows owners of plug-in electric vehicles in California to opt for only carbon-neutral charging at home.  

“Ford’s electric vehicle customers are beginning to realize all the possibilities associated with their vehicles and sustainable energy management,” said Matt Stover, director of charging and energy services, Ford Motor Co.

“By working with regulators, utilities and customers for home integration services, we’re enabling EV drivers to lower their carbon footprints, potentially save money and help protect the grid, all through their smartphones.” 

California-based owners of all current Ford all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, including the Mustang Mach-E, the E-Transit and the Escape PHEV, plus the F-150 Lightning coming in 2022, are eligible for the program. 

Ford green charging California graphic

Only green energy wanted 

The idea is to only use electricity made with renewable sources rather than oil, gas or coal, reducing the carbon footprint of the energy used to power the vehicles.  

Carlos Tavares, Stellantis CEO, recently noted the ability of electric vehicles to limit emissions of greenhouse gases is blunted if the energy powering them comes from fossil fuels, such as oil. Other critics of EVs note EVs cannot deter climate change if they are dependent on electric grid powered by fossil fuels.  

Ford plans to participate in CARB’s “Low Carbon Fuel Standard,” which will offer customers a new way to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change by matching the use of electricity used to charge plug-in electric vehicles at home with 100% local renewable energy, the automaker said. 

CARB, which has control of air quality standards throughout California, has long warred with automakers about emissions. Significant health concerns, created by automotive-related air pollution in Southern California, have given CARB enormous influence over emission standards not only across California but also across the United States. 

Ford Sustainable Charging web page

Program uses a phone app to find green energy 

Under the program, owners of eligible plug-in electric vehicles connect to the program through the FordPass app. 

Once enrolled, the FordPass app automatically tracks the amount of electricity used while charging at home. Ford generates, or buys, an equivalent amount of California-sourced Renewable Energy Certificates, an EPA-recognized program that records the generation and usage of green energy. 

Ford then sends evidence of the matching amounts to CARB, ensuring that all home plug-in charging activity is matched with zero-carbon electricity. 

Ford is investing more than $30 billion in electric vehicles and batteries through 2025. The push supports the company’s longer-term goal of creating a sustainable American manufacturing ecosystem, and to accelerate its progress towards achieving carbon neutrality no later than 2050. Overall, Ford expects 40% to 50% of its global vehicle volume to be fully electric by 2030.

Ford Shutting Down Plants as Chip Shortage Rages

Ford Motor Co.’s been among the hardest hit — if not the hardest — by the ongoing semiconductor chip shortage. 

In fact, the Detroit-area automaker announced another round of plant shutdowns — most related to chip related issues — June 30, but the stock fell only slightly closing at $14.84, down just 17 cents from the previous day’s closing price of $15.01.

Ford announced it will be closing down its Kansas City truck plant for two weeks next month.

The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker has been battling the semiconductor challenge essentially on two fronts. First, its primary supplier of chips, Japan-based Renesas saw its plant catch fire in mid-March. Any chance to go to the open market to make up for that was obviously impossible since large-scale producers in Taiwan and Asian countries were overrun by demand from, well, everyone.

Despite this compounding set of problems, investors seem to be riding the chip-powered rollercoaster with the automaker in 2021. The company’s stock, which languished below the $10 a share mark for much of the 18 months heading into this year, has enjoyed steady support thus far in 2021.

Riding the slow-rising wave

Analysts and investors alike have been waiting for the stock to begin some sort of comeback. It wasn’t all that long ago it traded above the $40 a share mark. In 2020, it fell as low as $4.33 in March; however, when the markets opened Jan. 4, 2021, Ford started at $9 even. 

And despite repeated plant closures, which included its best selling and most profitable vehicles — trucks and SUV — investors seemed to keep the faith, prices rising into the second quarter despite repeated warnings from CEO Jim Farley repeatedly telling anyone who would listen that the second quarter would be the worst.

Ford is going to cut production at its Chicago assembly plant due to the chip shortage.

Forewarned is forearmed

It appears sounding the alarm worked. The stock price began Q2 at $12.17 and closed June 30, the last day of the period just shy of $15 even as more closures were announced.

It’s shuttering the production line for the F-150 pickup truck at its Kansas City assembly plant for two weeks next month. Additionally, Ford’s Michigan assembly plant that recently started shipping its Bronco SUVs will be down for two weeks in July due to a shortage of certain auto parts, the company said, adding that this was unrelated to the chip shortage.

Ford’s massive Chicago assembly plant, which makes the Explorer sport-utility vehicles is closing from the week of July 5 to the week of July 26. It will run just two shifts – instead of three — the week of Aug. 2, according to the maker. Despite this, analysts seem pleased with what the automaker is doing. 

“Ford is doing pretty well,” said Bank of America Analyst John Murphy during Merrill Lynch’s “Car Wars” online event for investors. He noted the company’s betwixt and between its product cycles with some all-new models coming out and generating excitement — like the Bronco Sport and Bronco — while some of its older models getting only minor tweaks to gain interest.

All charged up by EVs

2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition
CEO Jim Farley noted recently the Mustang Mach-E is completely sold out.

What’s endearing Ford to investors is its leap into the EV market with its two strong product names: Mustang and F-150. In the last six months, the public’s finally gotten a good look what Ford plans to bring to the market in terms of the Mustang Mach-E followed by the F-150 Lightning. To a lesser extent, but still difficult to ignore, the company’s is the top seller of vans with its Transit and it revealed the electrified E-Transit too.

“We have the number one pickup truck, globally, that’s going with the number one van globally, that’s going electric and in North America, globally, for both,” Farley said during a call in mid-July. “And we have the number one sports car in the world going global, and going (to get) better in the next six months. 

“And so far, Mustang Mach-E is the only one out — it’s completely sold out. So, all I can tell you is that we’re going to be working hard on the flexibility for manufacturing, and our battery supply because we have the demand. And so far, early indications are that when you look at F-150. The adoption and the interest from customers is going faster, maybe, than even Ford expected.”

At the debut of the F-150 Lightning, Farley told reporters, “I am looking at this vehicle as a test for adoption of electric vehicles.” He added by using the company’s highest profile vehicles, it demonstrated commitment to EVs. By introducing it on its best-selling model, it gets scale, allowing the company to introduce the Lightning at just under $40K and securing more than 100,000 deposits — at $100 each — within a few weeks of its debut. 

Ford May Sales Rise Due to SUVs

Most automakers posting May sales results enjoyed massive upticks compared to their year-ago results — except Ford Motor Co. 

The Bronco Sport helped the company’s portfolio of SUVs keep its sales numbers positive in May.

Ford saw sales rise just 4.1% as inventories on its highly profitable trucks were very low, while Hyundai, Honda and others revealed triple-digit jumps for some vehicles and double-digit overall increases. No automaker has seemingly been hurt by the ongoing semiconductor shortage like Ford.

In fact, its retail sales results — excluding its fleet sales — were down 11.2% in May, a reflection of just how much Ford dealers are struggling to meet demand for the brand’s F-Series pickups. To be fair, CEO Jim Farley has repeatedly warned the second quarter would be the company’s worst due to the chip issue.

“Ford sales were up 4.1% on tight inventories, while year-to-date sales increased 11.3 percent,” said Andrew Frick, vice president, Ford Sales U.S. and Canada, in a statement. “Ford and its dealers are working harder than ever to match the right mix of inventory to best meet the needs of our customers at the local level. 

“We have been receiving a massive number of reservations for our all-electric F-150 Lightning over the last two weeks — totaling over 70,000 trucks. Ford brand SUVs had their best May sales in 18 years, while Lincoln SUVs posted a new May record.” 

SUVs carrying the company

2021 Lincoln Corsair Reserve front
Lincoln’s SUV, including the all-new Corsair, posted their best May since 2003.

The travails of truck inventories are well known. Fortunately, the company’s SUVs picked up the sales slack in May showing a 48.6% increase in total sales compared to last May and 27.9% on the retail level — again hurt by the chip problem.

Despite that difference, it was the company’s best May sales result for SUVs at the retail level since 2003. Ford brand SUVs were up 51.8% over a year ago on new product introductions of Bronco Sport and Mustang Mach-E, along with the continued momentum of Escape, Explorer and Expedition. 

The Bronco Sport and Escape performed well in the highly competitive small SUV segment, officials noted. Ford’s May retail share is up almost 4 full percentage points in the small SUV segment, with sales of both Bronco Sport and Escape expanding their sales within two very different customer groups. Escape sales were up 51.4%, while the majority of Bronco Sport customers are coming from outside the Ford brand. 

Lincoln SUVs did the Ford offerings one better, producing a record result last month. Lincoln SUV sales were up across the entire lineup in May with a total of 7,871 SUVs sold – up 24.3 percent. Perhaps just as impressively, the entire brand was up 5% and is up 15.3% for the year thus far. Those numbers are impacted by the massive drop in MKZ and Continental sales, which are no longer produced and dealers are trying to clear out remaining inventory.

2021 Mustang Mach-E
The Mustang Mach-E is part of the reason why the company’s electrified vehicle sales were up 184% last month.

EVs going crazy

A Mustang Mach-E sits for just 10 days once it gets to a dealer and many are selling upon arrival. Mach-E sales totaled 1,945 in May, and 10,510 year-to-date. 

The Mustang Mach-E is performing so well, the company is building more Mach-E’s than the original gas-powered pony car, according to Bloomberg. Ford’s plant in Mexico has produced 27,816 electric Mustang Mach-E models in 2021 while the Flat Rock, Michigan facility building the Mustang has churned out 26,089 vehicles, according to production data the automaker released Thursday.

Erich Merkle, Ford’s sales analyst, told Bloomberg that Mustang production in Flat Rock has been hampered by the chip shortage. However, Farley told a group of journalists after the introduction of the F-150 Lightning the Mach-E is outperforming expectations and its completely sold out of its initial production run.

Strong Mach-E sales doesn’t mean that the Mustang has suffered. The all-new Mustang Mach 1 helped lift performance Mustang sales to more than 13% of retail sales, compared to 10% last year, the news agency noted. 

Overall, Ford electrified vehicle sales skyrocketed 184% last month, some of which was driven by the aforementioned Mach-E, but it wasn’t alone, officials noted. F-150 PowerBoost totaled 2,852 for the month, Escape electrified sales totaled 3,617 – up 125% over last year. Explorer Hybrid sales also had a big increase of 132% compared with a year ago on sales of 1,156 SUVs. The future looks bright on that front as well. The previously mentioned F-150 Lightning secured more than 70,000 deposits since its debut about two weeks ago.

Electric F-150 Lightning Tops 44K Reservations as Ford Reveals More About Commercial Version

Ford’s all-electric F-150 Lightning appears to be striking a responsive chord with consumers, the automaker’s CEO Jim Farley tweeting that advance reservations for the battery-powered pickup topped 44,000 within just two days after its introduction.

The response from consumers to the F-150 Lightning has been strong.

The automaker is hoping to build even more momentum as it reveals new details about the commercial version of the truck, including a long-range Lightning Pro that will start at $49,974. That price, Ford said in a release, will include an 80-amp charger capable of bringing a nearly drained battery back to 100% overnight.

“More than 44,500 reservations in less than 48 hours … and counting,” said Farley in his tweet. “The future is here.”

Sales supercharged by a presidential visit

The F-150 Lightning is the third in what is expected to be a wave of new, all-electric pickups coming to market in the next few years, following the Tesla Cybertruck unveiled in 2019, and the GMC Hummer introduced last October. With the formal sales launch of Tesla delayed, Ford’s offering could become the second to actually reach showrooms — if it holds to a spring 2022 target.

Lightning got a “really big boost,” last week a top Ford executive told TheDetroitBureau.com during a background conversation, when President Joe Biden came to Detroit. He did several burnouts in the truck — which officially can hit 60 in 4.5 seconds — declaring, “This sucker is really fast.”

For potential buyers, however, it’s the utility the truck will offer that is making waves. That includes a trunk-sized “frunk” under its hood to the built-in generator capable of providing up to 9,600 watts of power. That’s enough to power a large worksite or a typical home for three days or more, according to Ford.

Two range options

Two equally big selling points are the potential range the truck will offer, along with its starting price. The 230-mile version of the F-150 Lightning Pro starts at $39,974 — or $16 less than a Tesla Model 3 sedan. The 300-mile model will come in at $49,974, Ford announced today. Both include the 80-amp Ford Charge Station Pro which can fully charge the truck in as little as eight hours.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk offered a congratulatory tweet.

Today’s announcement could lead to some confusion for buyers, however. The short-range Lightning Pro will be available to both commercial and retail buyers. The 300-mile model will be sold exclusively to fleets and other commercial customers.

Retail buyers will have a variety of other models available, however, including high-line trim levels, such as the King Ranch and Platinum, that will push as high as $95,000. (All prices quoted here exclude delivery charges, as well as federal tax credits of up to $7,500.)

All versions of the F-150 Lightning will use twin motors, one on each axle, to deliver all-wheel-drive without a connecting drive shaft. The short-range model will produce 426 horsepower and 775 pound-feet of torque. The long-range package will boost horsepower to 563. Depending on the package and options, the Pro series will handle up to 10,000 pounds of towing.

The frunk carries plenty of job-related necessities for the work site.

Fleet-minded telematics technology

The Pro models are targeted at those who want a relatively stripped-down truck for rough-and-tumble applications. They come with vinyl seats but also feature a full-size spare mounted under the skateboard-like chassis, behind the battery pack.

The purpose-built models also will offer what Ford calls “seamless integration” of telematics features that allow a fleet manager or commercial customer to remotely track things like a battery pack’s state-of-charge, potential service issues and other vehicle operations. Like the retail F-150 Lightning, the Pro also will allow “pre-conditioning” of the cabin, warming or cooling it up while connected to a charger, in order to extend range.

With the truck capable of smartphone-style over-the-air updates, Ford also plans to update onboard software and offer new features for Lightning in the future.

“As more companies make the commitment to go carbon neutral, they are going to expect electric products that can integrate into their operations easily,” Farley said in a statement today. “F-150 Lightning Pro represents so much more than an electric workhorse – it’s made for commercial customers inside and out, it gets better over time, and it’s totally plugged into always-on services that can help business productivity.”

Ford Makes Former Ambassador, Board Member Huntsman New Vice Chairman

Jon M. Huntsman, Jr.

Jon Huntsman will remain on Ford’s board of directors as he moves into the vice chairman role.

Ford Motor Co. is giving one of its outside directors a new title, vice chairman.

Jon Huntsman, who is described as a “vital” member of Ford’s board of directors, joins the company in a senior advisory position, the company said. Company directors Wednesday approved the appointment of Huntsman as vice chair, Policy, effective May 3.

He will advise Jim Farley, Ford’s president and CEO, and Executive Chair Bill Ford as the company considers and implements strategic policy choices during a period of profound industry change, including the transition to zero-emission battery electric vehicles, the company’s statement on Huntsman’s new role said.

Huntsman will remain on Ford’s board of directors, the automaker said.

Tasks for new role

Bill Ford will use the counsel of Huntsman on a variety of issues going forward.

In his new role, Huntsman will work closely with company teams across a range of disciplines, especially Government Relations; the Office of the General Counsel; and Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. He will represent Ford with certain government officials and influencers in the United States and other countries around the world, Ford said.

“Global policy is hugely important to transforming Ford and unlocking great value for customers and all stakeholders,” said Farley.

“Jon’s background, insights and achievements are unrivaled — as an ambassador and trade representative, a state governor and a public-company executive.”

Farley added that Huntsman is highly regarded by government, NGO and business leaders worldwide, including on both sides of the aisle in Washington, D.C.

Diplomatic experience

Ford CEO Jim Farley said Huntsman’s political experience will be invaluable to the automaker.

Huntsman was first elected to Ford’s board of directors in 2012, after serving as the U.S. Ambassador to the Peoples Republic of China during the Obama administration.

He resigned in September 2017 to become U.S. ambassador to Russia under President Donald Trump, Huntsman returned to the Ford board of directors in October of 2020 and is standing for re-election at the annual shareholders meeting on May 13.

He also served as ambassador to Singapore in the early 1990s under Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush. In a series of trade assignments, including two years as deputy U.S. trade representative under President George W. Bush, Huntsman negotiated dozens of trade and investment agreements in Asia Pacific and Africa.

Huntsman also was the Republican governor of Utah from January 2005 to August 2009. Earlier, he was an executive of Huntsman Corp., an innovative global chemicals company. Huntsman is also a member of the Chevron board of directors. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in International Politics.

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Ford Wants America to “Finish Strong” in Battle Against COVID-19

Ford is looking to continue its role in fighting the coronavirus pandemic with a new slate of ads promoting responsible behaviors.

Ford Motor Co. hopes to impact a massive number of Americans with an unusual public service campaign launching New Year’s Day aimed at convincing Americans to ignore politics and focus on science to help save tens of thousands of lives at risk due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The automaker plans to air a 30-second spot at least 20 times during the upcoming college bowl and NFL games kicking off 2021 using ad space it originally bought to pitch its latest-generation F-150 pickup. Produced by Peter Berg, a Hollywood director known for films like Patriots Day, and narrated by popular actor Bryan Cranston, the spot emphasizes the need to wear masks and keep socially distanced.

The goal is to take politics out of the discussion, said Jim Baumbick, the Ford vice president who helped oversee the automaker’s production of masks, face shields and ventilators used to deal with the pandemic. “The underlying premise is that we’re not helpless,” he explained during a web conversation. “The outcome is not predetermined. There are things you can do to save lives.”

(Ford pushes on to goal of producing 100 million masks.)

The ads will run starting on New Year’s Day during college and NFL football games.

By the time the ball falls in New York’s Times Square, officially marking the end of pandemic-plagued 2020, more than 340,000 Americans will be dead due to the virus – with the daily death toll now higher than the number of citizens killed at both Pearl Harbor and on 9/11, Bombeck said during a webinar previewing the new campaign.

And, with the latest wave of the pandemic setting new records almost every day, as many as 50,000 to 60,000 more people could die before the new COVID-19 vaccines bring things under control, warned Ford communications chief Mark Truby, quoting a new study by the University of Washington.

The irony, Ford officials said, is that a significant number of lives could be saved by “working together,” taking such simple steps as wearing masks, maintaining social distance and following other recommended actions. But the pandemic has become a touchpoint in the American political divide, many Americans downplaying its dangers and refusing to do things like wearing masks that have been recommended by public health officials.

Ford decided to use its resources to get the message out, said Truby, noting, “We feel we have a credible voice to convey this message because we are a trusted company and have put our money where our mouth is” with the production of personal protection equipment.

Ford employees have produced 55 million face masks with a target of 100 million.

Like its crosstown rivals, Ford got involved in pandemic control and treatment efforts early on. It has so far produced 55 million face masks – with a target of reaching 100 million – and millions more face shields and medical gowns. It also has produced equipment for hospitals, including 32,000 respirators.

(Ford, GM prepped to build ventilators, other essential medical gear.)

Ford had already purchased a large block of ads during the Rose Bowl and other college bowl games, as well as the weekend’s NFL series. They were meant to provide a launching pad for the 2021 F-150 pickup, Ford’s best-selling product line, as well as its most profitable.

The decision to shift 20 of those spots to air the pandemic campaign came about during the current holiday break, two of Ford’s ad agencies, as well as both director Berg and actor Cranston, hustling to have a finished version ready ahead of New Year’s Eve.

This marks the second collaboration between Berg and Ford. He directed a short documentary about Ford’s Project Apollo titled “On the Line,” which appeared on YouTube during the Labor Day Weekend. Project Apollo was the internal code name for the company’s effort to design and manufacture personal protective equipment, including powered air-purifying respirators, face shields, medical gowns for health care workers and first responders, plus ventilators for COVID-19 patients.

Ford’s Finish Strong ad campaign marks its second collaboration with award-winning director Peter Berg.

Berg’s documentary features members of Ford’s Project Apollo team – from the engineers who led the project to the UAW team members who volunteered to work at the height of the pandemic.

Previewed on Wednesday for a handful of journalists, the 30-second version of “Finish Strong” combines two basic themes: the desire to get back to “normal” life — and the risks the pandemic poses to individuals. One of the real Americans highlighted in the spot was shown being wheeled out of the hospital after surviving 20 days on a ventilator.

Ford plans to run the broadcast version from Jan. 1–3, though that may be extended onto regular network programming, said Truby, noting that the project also will rely on 6-, 10- and 60-second videos to sweep across social media.

(Ford getting ready for the post-pandemic chapter.)

Ford officials wouldn’t reveal the exact cost of the campaign, noting only that between production and air time, as well as social media fees, the price will run into the “millions.” But the goal is to maximize exposure, to “reach a high number of millions … a huge” number of Americans, said Truby.