ice-capades

FYI... Ford did not issue an updated FDNB (Fleet Distribution News Bulletin) yesterday so there is no updated information available regarding 2014MY Fusion scheduling. However, according to this week's Commodity and Constraints Letter, no 2014MY Fusion scheduling has started as Ford is still completing the "Balance Out" scheduling on the 2013MY Fusion. I'll post additional information as it becomes available.

It's always driven me crazy that America's original "Pony Car" is shipped with Perelli tires on the GT series! I've always been a big fan of the Goodyear Eagle tires and there's a lot of Eagle versions available specific to a wide variety of performance specifications.

It looks like the new T-Series Transit model is going to be available later than originally expected. The 2013 E-Series was supposed to be the last year but Ford recently released the 2014 E-Series Order Guides. I'd expect that there may be a crossover timetable where the E-Series continues to be available until T-Series production starts and then ramps up to full speed. This would ensure inventory available of the E-Series until sufficient T-Series inventory is available to maintain the segment sales volume.

Ford did not release an updated FDNB (Fleet Distribution News Bulletin) yesterday and as a result there is no new information on the 2014MY C-MAX timetable, even though the 2014 C-MAX Order Guide was released recently.

2014 Fusion orders have not started scheduling yet as Ford is still completing the 2013MY Fusion "Balance Out" scheduling.

As much as it looked like the government was going to mandate a requirement for rear view video cameras, they actually decided not to require the cameras. Even so, many manufacturers are adding them to more models as standard equipment.

Yes, there will be a 2014 Raptor along with a new 2014 Raptor Special Edition series that Ford announced recently. Attached is a copy of Ford's announcement with the specifications. The 2014 F-150 Order Guide will not be available until mid-August. Ford Announces New 2014 F150 SVT Raptor Special Edition.pdf

There are a number of rear spoilers available from Ford that can be painted and installed by your Dealer. Check the Ford Accessories site.

Your Dealer can show you the actual Stone Leather sample for the specific 2014 Mustang model you ordered along with the other interior information, again for your specific model Mustang.

Production is at the Flat Rock Assembly Plant, Flat Rock, Michigan. Order bank, scheduling, production and shipping status information is available through Vehicle Visibility reports which your dealer can provide!

Below is the latest timetable information as released in Friday's FDNB (Fleet Distribution News Bulletin) 2013MY FUSION 07/13/2013 - 2013MY Job Last Date2014MY FUSION 04/19/2013 - 2014MY Order Bank Open Date (Hermosillo & Flat Rock) 05/30/2013 - 2014 MY Scheduling Begins (Hermosillo) 07/18/2013 - 2014 MY Scheduling Begins (Flat Rock) 07/15/2013 - 2014MY Job #1 Date (Hermosillo) 09/03/2013 - 2014MY Job #1 Date (Flat Rock)

Below is the latest information available via Friday's FDNB (Fleet Distribution News Bulletin)... 06/30/2013 - 2013MY Job Last ate 05/21/2013 - 2014MY Order Bank Open Date 06/13/2013 - 2014MY Scheduling Begins 07/08/2013 - 2014MY Job #1 Date The 2014 Focus Order Guide should be available anytime now!

Below is the latest information published in Friday's FDNB (Fleet Distribution News Bulletin) regarding the C-MAX timetable. 08/30/2013 - 2013MY Fleet Final Order Date TBD 2013MY Last Date to Spec Change/Cancel 11/30/2013 - 2013MY Job Last Date TBD 2014MY Order Bank Open Date TBD 2014MY Scheduling Begins TBD 2014MY Job #1 Date

If you ordered a 2013MY C-MAX it'll be scheduled and produced as a 2013MY vehicle. Ford does not roll over orders to the next Model Year! If you want a 2014 C-MAX the Dealer must order it as a 2014.

No word yet on the revised 2013/2014MY C-MAX timetable. The latest FDNB (Fleet Distribution News Bulletin) from last Friday still shows a 2013 Job Last date of 12/01/2013 which has to be incorrect since they just released the 2014 C-MAX Order Guides. Scheduling usually starts a month after the order guides are released and the USOB (Unscheduled Order Bank) is open. Job #1 is usually a month after scheduling starts. Hopefully Ford will update the C-MAX timetable soon so that these questions can be answered.

Sorry "Austin" but after managing new Ford inventory for 27 years, I've never seen or heard of "pre-production" vehicles being produced for company lease vehicles that are being used as guinea pigs. Ford normally will not even schedule retail or fleet orders until the "OK to Buy" status is reached which is normally at the time that the initial shipping release status is achieved. Even so, Flat Rock is not scheduled to start production until August 26th which makes your claimed July production date even more suspect. Further, the entire Flat Rock plant, including the Mustang assembly line, is scheduled to be "down" for most of July. Ford will not complete 2013 Fusion scheduling until Thursday this week with 2014 Fusion scheduling starting as soon as next Thursday, May 23rd. Even so, initial scheduling will be restricted to Dealer stock orders until the "OK to Buy' Status is reached. In addition, there is no information available yet as to whether Flat Rock's production of the 2014 Fusion will be restricted to certain models, powertrain, etc. In any event, scheduling at plants is determined by Ford and beyond the control of Dealers.

Thanks for buying a Ford vehicle! I've driven nothing but Mustang's for a company car for many years so I know how much you'll enjoy being part of the Mustang family. Enjoy!

07/13/2013 - 2013MY Job Last Date 04/19/2013 - 2014MY Order Bank Open Date 05/16/2013 - 2014MY Scheduling Begins - Hermosillo 06/13/2013 - 2014MY Scheduling Begins - Flat Rock 07/15/2013 - 2014MY Job #1 Date - Hermosillo 08/26/2013 - 2014MY Job #1 Date - Flat Rock The above information is from the latest FDNB (Fleet Distribution News Bulletin) released on May 10, 2013. The one change since then is that 2014 Fusion scheduling will not start this week as originally planned. Final 2013MY Fusion scheduling is to be completed on Thursday this week with 2014MY Fusion scheduling anticipated to start the following Thursday, May 23rd. As such, there has been NO 2014 Fusion scheduling yet. In addition Flat Rock scheduling does not start until June 13th with a Flat Rock Job #1 Date of August 26th!

2014 C-MAX Hybrid & 2014 C-MAX Energi Order Guides 2014 C-MAX Energi Order Guide.pdf 2014 C-MAX Hybrid Order Guide.pdf

There's nothing more disappointing for either the Dealer or retail customer to discover either vehicle damage or possible factory defect months after the vehicle arrived or was sold and delivered to a customer. Your Ford Dealer has the first responsibility to inspect the vehicle upon arrival and note any carrier damage on the Bill of Lading to support the in-transit claim and damage repair claim that will be filed. If there is no damage noted at the time of receipt, the Dealer is responsible for the cost of any repairs. Roof damage, with or without a Power Moonroof, is always a primary if not critical concern at initial inspection as some types of roof damage will render the car to be a "category" vehicle requiring the vehicle to be returned to Ford for repair and then sold at auction. I'm not suggesting the issue described here is of that caliber as the descriptions here sound relative minor and easy to correct. What's important here is that every customer inspect their vehicle prior to taking delivery! Should there be any evidence of either carrier damage or factory defects they should be addressed at that time and before the customer takes delivery. Doing so prior to delivery will eliminate a lot of problems afterward.

There is still no information on why the 2013MY Job Last Date has been pushed back to December 1st. Ford may just be trying to maximize the sales numbers for the 2013MY C-MAX Hybrid for future marketing purposes but even this is just speculation. I have seen nothing about any rumored drivetrain issues.

Thank you for buying a Ford product!

I understand what you're saying but from a Dealer's perspective will respectfully disagree. Holding off on the next generation Mustang's reveal until the anniversary date and/or Job #1 date will just push back availability of the new model that much longer. It's quite common, even the rule, that Ford will hold 4-6 weeks of production for thorough quality inspections at the plant before issuing the initial shipping release. With that I mind, holding the reveal and/or Job #1 date to coincide with the anniversary date would mean that the shipping release wouldn't happen until nearly June of next year with cars hitting Dealers' lots in mid-June or so. The Mustang model year production change has taken place in the late January, early February time frame for many years now and I'd expect that Ford is planning on keeping that cycle in place as long as everything is ready for continuing the same changeover schedule. Ford will have multiple opportunities to market the next generation Mustang to the enthusiasts and to the public... spy shots, early magazine articles, public reveal, etc. A lot of these questions will be answered when Ford releases the 2015 Mustang order bank, scheduling and production timetable later this year! Many of us here are old enough to remember the days when all the new models were unveiled at the same time in the Fall of each year. As the business has changed over the years, manufacturers just can't afford to wait to put cars on the market. Considering the hundreds of millions of dollars and even billions of dollars involved in creating and producing new models, they just can't afford any delays in getting those new models into customers hands. Further, it's been years since Ford has used an official sale date before Dealers can sell and deliver a new vehicle. For a number of years now, Ford has authorized its Dealers to sell new Model Year vehicles upon receipt. Thanks!

While it may benefit customers to see all these individual options available for order, it makes it much, much more difficult for Dealers trying to order the right mix of models and features/options. The all-new 2014 Transit Connect has 15 different body codes just to start with!

Ford will release information on the next generation Mustang on its own schedule but from what's been reported online recently, we're being told not to expect a too radical makeover as Ford recognizes the importance of the Mustang heritage and knows that the all-new car must be instantly recognizable as a Mustang. I's expect to see the new car at the Los Angeles show at the latest as the Detroit show will be very close to what I expect the 2015MY Job #1 date to be and the New York auto show will be too late as Ford will want the car to be available for sale by the 50th anniversary date.