When is Ford Converting Another Plant to Build Mavericks?

[RedRider]

Just looking at the production numbers, it seems like Ford is not going to ever catch up their Maverick production capacity to their outstanding orders. This extreme lack of capacity is especially obvious for the hybrid production. Some people still do not have their 2021 orders built. It feels like multiple levels of management need to be fired for their part in this extreme debacle.
Aside from the ordering process incompetence, Ford have multiple other plants either running below capacity or building end-of-life vehicles. It seems pretty obvious looking in from the outside, that they need to more than double their Maverick production capacity, and if you account for the presumably large number of buyers who have held off ordering because of the production mess, possibly even triple the existing production capacity. I realize that they are adding 80,000 vehicles in Hermasillo in 3 months, but that probably means that about 50,000 of those are Bronco Sport models, not Mavericks. Pushing buyers to frustration with 500-day wait times and forcing a move to a Ranger, Nissan Frontier or Chevy Colorado that don't even fit in a standard garage and get wose gas mileage than the F150 seems to be the wrong move on every front. It looks like finally adding that third shift is going to be totally inadequate to fulfill the order backlog in less than 4 years.
So, the solution is also totally obvious - When is Ford management going to fix the problem and convert at least one underutilized or soon to be idled plant to build Mavericks?

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[B2000]

If they don't make much profit on them they don't necessarily want to make a lot more of them.

 

[Old Ranchero]

misdiagnoses leading to faulty prognosis. They can only build as many as they can reliably source and receive ALL components to build. Are you proposing building another line in a different country than Mexico? THAT would create intolerable waits beyond what anyone has experienced to date. Also not cost effective for even a couple hundred K extra units per year.

If your #1 priority is buying a hybrid due to MPG and don't NEED ANY truck capability, I would be looking at easier to acquire options than a Maverick

 

[FriscoTXJoe]

You been around the last 3 years ? Lot's of stuff on what's called "back order". Demanding a MFG build more of what appears to be a "not so profitable" vehicle is definitely on the outside looking in .

 

[BradnChristine]

Just looking at the production numbers, it seems like Ford is not going to ever catch up their Maverick production capacity to their outstanding orders. ...

Ford will build exactly as many Mavericks as Ford wants to build. The issue is that customers want more, but that desire is not shared with Ford.

 

[Mike215]

If there are parts shortages it doesn't matter how many plants are running. No parts, no trucks. It sucks as I waited 16 months for my 22 and ordered a 23 for my wife but we will never see it so I am not going to order a 24 and just move on to something else.

 

[Sirk]

Ford is building exactly as many Mavericks as they want to build.

To answer your question: probably never.

 

[Newfrontporch]

Ford’s goal is to maximize profits. A second production facility would be costly, and with more competition aside from the Hyundai on the way, a second factory might not be all that profitable. More trucks sold does not always equal more profits.

 

[BuddyS]

"We lose money on every one we sell, but we make it up in volume."

 

[MinntoMich]

Well never I think. Not in the US at any rate. Too bad too as they have closed several plants stateside. I don't buy the whole shortage or inflation narrative but that's just my opinion. It made for some outrageous price hikes and now, even though supply chains are supposedly at pre-pandemic levels and some new trucks are taking 100 days on average to turn over on dealer lots, prices will not adjust accordingly. Not even close. Retailers have found a new high for prices to ask and consumers are conditioned to pay those high prices now... for everything.

Moving production out of the US has been a goal of Ford Motor and other companies for years. A far departure from when Ford controlled everything (or tried to) in their supply chain. Rubber plantations, glass plants, steel plants and the fleet to carry the ore to the mills. Kinda like the former Northwest Airlines as they used to own outright all of their aircraft and now they are part of another company and everything is leased. Odd but that company got its initial funding to start as an air mail carrier from Henry Ford with a promise and a handshake.

My how things have changed.

 

[MiMav]

I would be shocked if Ford started building Mavs in another plant. As others have stated there's a huge cost factor. It looks like Bronco Sport production is caught up with demand. I expect most of the new 3rd shift will go toward Mav production.

 

[bc22]

Are we sure Ford isn't making money on Mavericks or their aftermarket parts (usually where they make bank and where volume would be beneficial)? They're made in Mexico, they're pretty spartan and barebones, and Ford has never had to sell them using rebates or other monetary gimmicks.

One caveat would be that Ford Maverick's seem to have a lot of recalls, which can be pricey. But the whole Ford line has a bunch of recalls.

 

[anblatt]

Ford will build exactly as many Mavericks as Ford wants to build. The issue is that customers want more, but that desire is not shared with Ford.

This exactly all day long! The Maverick was always intended as a gateway drug for Ford. As in, "want a maverick hybrid sorry sold out, but we can order you a more expensive Escape Hybrid. Want an Ecoboost Maverick, sorry sold out, but we can get you a Ranger$$$ got six of them sitting on the lot!" Same story for F-150, Bronco Sport, or whichever upsell best fits your reason for being lured into a Ford dealership for a Maverick in the first place.

 

[TheSEARCH]

I still can't believe the Mav does not make money. Maybe a stripped XL hybrid but no way on a 30K plus Mav. The options make huge money. I see many here load them up with all sorts of options. Now modifying another plant to build and meet demand is doubtful. I think Ford is willing to lose out to other makes in either 2024 or 2025. If Ford does that which it looks like and if Toyota has a hybrid truck that is price wise similar then that is where I will go.

I look at it this way. Ford knows it has a limited time before other makes build one too. So dumping more money in another plant when the competition might meet or even blow Ford away seems way to risky.

 

[bgn]

Are we sure Ford isn't making money on Mavericks or their aftermarket parts (usually where they make bank and where volume would be beneficial)? They're made in Mexico, they're pretty spartan and barebones, and Ford has never had to sell them using rebates or other monetary gimmicks.

One caveat would be that Ford Maverick's seem to have a lot of recalls, which can be pricey. But the whole Ford line has a bunch of recalls.

I'd be highly surprised if they're not making money. The higher trims and packages are subsidizing the barebones builds, if I were to guess.

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