ice-capades

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair Order Guide is still not available via the Ford Fleet site.

Production Week Scheduling - Week of 08/31/2020

I have a number of options available but won't make any decisions for at least another month. All of the opportunities are non-automotive and one is something that I've been involved with for over a year as a business consultant that has a lot of potential. In any event, I'll be able to better utilize my business background, set my own schedule, etc.

I've got a lot to keep me busy for the next month or longer before I make any decisions regarding the new opportunities. Some I've already been involved in on an international basis. Don't worry, I'm still a a diehard Ford fan so I'll be around to contribute in any meaningful way I can. Thanks so much!

Thanks so much! Just too many other opportunities to consider that can be more rewarding financially and a better use of my experience. FYI... I could do a lot of work for other dealerships but, as a matter of principal and my own credibility, I will not consider under any circumstances providing services to any other direct competitors. The other opportunities available are all non-automotive.

ANNOUNCEMENT & NOTICE TO BOF MEMBERS… After nearly 35 years managing the new vehicle inventory and running the in-house advertising agency for the Dealer Principal’s automotive and non-automotive (real estate development, air charter, Arabian horses, etc.) interests over the years, in addition to my 15-year history in the entertainment business along with my advertising production background, I have resigned my position effective September 5, 2020. I will still be available to provide services to the dealership as needed but don’t know how long afterwards that I’ll have access to the FMCDealer.com portal, the Ford Fleet site, etc. I’ll continue to provide my services here on BOF for as long as possible but wanted to let everyone know that my status will be changing soon. I’ll upload the revised Ford and Lincoln Order Guides that are available as of September 1st and update the Production Scheduling Information that I provide weekly as long as I have access to that information. The same applies to providing vehicle Window Stickers. I won’t disappear and will continue to provide whatever assistance I can to help the BOF members. Now after all these years I have to become a customer and decide what to do for a vehicle to drive! I’m considering a “D Plan” 2-year, low mileage lease on the 2020 Mustang EcoBoost Fastback I’ve been driving (#101A, Automatic, Safe & Smart, Navigation). The other option is a 2020 EcoSport SES or Titanium AWD w/Navigation only because of the $6-7,000 incentives being advertised by Ford. I’ve driven nothing but Mustang’s for my company car since 2004 and driven GT’s 95% of the time but now I’m looking at it all from a consumer perspective… monthly payments, insurance costs, taxes, etc. I’ll probably do a deal on the Mustang but will still have to consider the options even though I really hate the idea of driving an SUV.

ANNOUNCEMENT & NOTICE TO BOF MEMBERS… After nearly 35 years managing the new vehicle inventory and running the in-house advertising agency for the Dealer Principal’s automotive and non-automotive (real estate development, air charter, Arabian horses, etc.) interests over the years, in addition to my 15-year history in the entertainment business along with my advertising production background, I have resigned my position effective September 5, 2020. I will still be available to provide services to the dealership as needed but don’t know how long afterwards that I’ll have access to the FMCDealer.com portal, the Ford Fleet site, etc. I’ll continue to provide my services here on BOF for as long as possible but wanted to let everyone know that my status will be changing soon. I’ll upload the revised Ford and Lincoln Order Guides that are available as of September 1st and update the Production Scheduling Information that I provide weekly as long as I have access to that information. The same applies to providing vehicle Window Stickers. I won’t disappear and will continue to provide whatever assistance I can to help the BOF members. Now after all these years I have to become a customer and decide what to do for a vehicle to drive! I’m considering a “D Plan” 2-year, low mileage lease on the 2020 Mustang EcoBoost Fastback I’ve been driving (#101A, Automatic, Safe & Smart, Navigation). The other option is a 2020 EcoSport SES or Titanium AWD w/Navigation only because of the $6-7,000 incentives being advertised by Ford. I’ve driven nothing but Mustang’s for my company car since 2004 and driven GT’s 95% of the time but now I’m looking at it all from a consumer perspective… monthly payments, insurance costs, taxes, etc. I’ll probably do a deal on the Mustang but will still have to consider the options even though I really hate the idea of driving an SUV.

Sorry but you can't equate vehicle reliability or recall frequency to the assembly plant. In most cases, it's an engineering or vendor related issue and not a vehicle assembly matter.

Vehicles ordered for delivery in states requiring 2 plates automatically include a front plate bracket. On some vehicle lines the front plate bracket is factory installed but in most cases it's shipped with the vehicle for dealer installation. For all vehicle lines the front plate bracket (153) is also available as a no charge option for dealers in single plate states that may want the brackets. The vehicle prep process may vary between dealers but in our case it's the service technician that preps the vehicle, not the detailer, that installs the front plate bracket. If the customer specifically requests that the front plate bracket not be installed, it's specifically noted on the work order. Our dealership policy regarding Mustangs is that the front license plate bracket is not to be installed unless the customer specifically requests it. The vehicle is delivered with the bracket in the trunk for future installation should the customer request the installation at a later date. Years ago we lost a deal on a Shelby because a front plate bracket was installed and the customer did not want the vehicle repaired. Along with the discussion here about front plate brackets, there's a similar issue with dealers that install or used to install their dealership badges with types that were riveted. The law was changed in CT years ago requiring dealers to pay any costs related to repairing the damage should a customer request that no dealer branding be installed. Most dealerships now use adhesive branding that can be easily removed.

Yes... "No Scheduling" has nothing to do with a plant's operating status. Some vehicle lines schedule a whole month's allocation at one time. Other vehicle lines schedule on a weekly basis until they get changed to the newer WBDO OTD scheduling model. "Cleanup" scheduling is just completing scheduling that wasn't finished the previous week due to commodity issues.

Specialty vehicles (Shelby GT350/GT500, F-150 Raptor) are not part of the regular allocation and scheduling process. Ford makes allocation available for scheduling to the regional offices that then decide what dealers will get allocation for scheduling. Dealers are notified in advance to make sure that they have orders in place meeting available commodity constraints but the lead time for scheduling these units is usually long. I just got a GT500 scheduled for October production that had been in the USOB (Unscheduled Order Bank) since before the COVID-19 shutdown.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair USOB (Unscheduled Order Bank) has been open since 07/13/2020 and scheduling was due to start last week. For some reason Lincoln has still not made it available via the Ford Fleet site.

Production Week Scheduling - Week of 08/24/2020

Edge scheduling has been cancelled for tomorrow and will resume next Thursday, August 27th.

Ford will most likely increase the incentives on the 2020 Explorer's to help clear out the inventory and minimize the leftover inventory in stock by the time the lower priced 2021MY Explorer's start shipping.

Correct but per the latest FDNB (Fleet Distribution News Bulletin) 2021MY Aviator scheduling did not start until 08/13/2020.

SYNC 3 per the 2020 Escape PHEV Order Guide which is available for download in the Dealer Order Guides section.

Our dealership inventory is currently only about 2/3's of what it would normally be at this time of the year. Part of it is conservative inventory planning the past 4 months along with better than expected sales in June and July. Obviously, there's nothing normal with market conditions this year and it's also a presidential election year. Sales in September and October usually take a hit before a presidential election as buyers wait to see the election results. We haven't had a 2018MY vehicle in stock in over a year and only have (4) 2019's left. EcoSport inventory is now down to about half of what it was and closer to our target level, Edge inventory is a bit short, Escape far less than it was partially reflecting reduced sales/leases of the 2020MY's, Explorer a bit light due to strong sales, Fusion inventory heavy due to balance out and far above what I'd prefer, only 1 Mustang in stock, Ranger inventory half what is was due to increased sales in June and July, F-150 inventory slightly below our average, only 1 Super Duty in stock.

Production Week Scheduling - Week of 08/17/2020

There's no particular legend.

No change and the window is too short to move the Job #1 Date forward which I don't remember Ford ever doing.

Order Guides have been uploaded to the Dealer Order Guides section for the following vehicles. 2021 Super Duty Chassis Cab Order Guide 2021 Super Duty Pick-Up Order Guide

2021 Super Duty Pick-Up Order Guide View File 2021 Super Duty Pick-Up Order Guide Submitter ice-capades Submitted 08/11/2020 Category F Series Super Duty  

2021 Super Duty Chassis Cab Order Guide View File 2021 Super Duty Chassis Cab Order Guide Submitter ice-capades Submitted 08/11/2020 Category F Series Super Duty