Ford to Sell Explorer SUVs With a Few Chips Missing

pcmag.com:

Amidst an ongoing semiconductor shortage, Ford plans to sell some Explorer SUVs without the chips required to power rear air conditioning and heating controls.

The vehicles still have heating and AC—they're just controllable only from the front seats. The missing chips will ship within a year, allowing dealers to retroactively install them in SUVs after purchase.

Those buying an unfinished Explorer will receive a price reduction, Ford spokesperson Said Deep told The Verge, without revealing specific numbers. The temporary modification, according to Deep, aims to get new Explorers in the hands of customers faster.

Ford previously intended to ship vehicles that couldn't be driven last year, in hopes of simply filling dealers' empty lots. Then, when back-ordered semiconductors become available, dealers (who regularly install parts and components for recall orders and repairs) could insert them into vehicles making them available for sale.

Demand for semiconductors initially rose during the pandemic as people bought more personal electronics, but COVID-19 lockdowns and furloughs ultimately halted the supply chain, forcing manufacturers to explore different avenues for sale of their products. The vehicle sector was hit especially hard.

This isn't Ford's first fix: The automaker last year had to scale back production of its F-150, giving customers the option to purchase the popular pickup without automatic start-stop (which turns the vehicle's engine off when it comes to a complete stop) in exchange for a $50 credit.

Ford did not immediately respond to PCMag's request for comment.

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