Ford Considers Axing Car Feature That Could Save Company Millions Per Year

[atomcat68]

On 2/12/2024 at 8:37 PM, silvrsvt said:

 

In the grand scheme of things when do things actually get cheaper? Only if you downsize or order less options. But there are so many variables with that too. 

 

Lets put this way, I had this really cool indicator thing on my 1986 Escort GT

 

 

Never had a car again with it...did I miss it? Nope. Some of the stuff moved to the dashboard, but never had a brake/Tail light or Headlight out indicator ever again.  

I actually liked that thing on my EXP! It had the light test button to make sure the warning lights worked. They were probably worried that the light test button wouldn't work and need to have a test for that as well. 

The most bizarre thing was the fuel filler door release was in the glove box, so you had to lean across the car to open it. A button behind a door to release another door.

[Gurgeh]

The 2025 Aviator now joins the list.

 

https://fordauthority.com/2024/04/2025-lincoln-aviator-also-drops-active-park-assist-2-0/

"The refreshed 2025 Lincoln Aviator just debuted in early February, bringing with it some revised styling elements inside and out, along with a host of new features such as the Lincoln Digital Experience infotainment software, bigger screens, and a revamped interior with new niceties – albeit at higher prices. 2025 Lincoln Aviator production is currently scheduled to kick off at the Chicago Assembly plant in May, but now, Ford Authority has learned that it will be missing one feature, in particular – Active Park Assist 2.0...

 

"As Ford Authority reported this past February, The Blue Oval has been muling the removal of automated parallel parking from its Active Park Assist feature in general, as COO Kumar Galhotra noted on the automaker’s Q4 2024 earnings call with investors that this is one of a few seldomly-used features that the automaker plans to remove as it aims to trim another $2 billion in costs from its bottom line. In fact, removing this feature alone could potentially save the automaker a whopping $10 million annually."

[Andrew L]

4 minutes ago, Gurgeh said:

The 2025 Aviator now joins the list.

 

https://fordauthority.com/2024/04/2025-lincoln-aviator-also-drops-active-park-assist-2-0/

"The refreshed 2025 Lincoln Aviator just debuted in early February, bringing with it some revised styling elements inside and out, along with a host of new features such as the Lincoln Digital Experience infotainment software, bigger screens, and a revamped interior with new niceties – albeit at higher prices. 2025 Lincoln Aviator production is currently scheduled to kick off at the Chicago Assembly plant in May, but now, Ford Authority has learned that it will be missing one feature, in particular – Active Park Assist 2.0...

 

"As Ford Authority reported this past February, The Blue Oval has been muling the removal of automated parallel parking from its Active Park Assist feature in general, as COO Kumar Galhotra noted on the automaker’s Q4 2024 earnings call with investors that this is one of a few seldomly-used features that the automaker plans to remove as it aims to trim another $2 billion in costs from its bottom line. In fact, removing this feature alone could potentially save the automaker a whopping $10 million annually."

 

I thought it would have made sense to drop this feature on Fords but keep it on Lincolns as an option but I guess they are just going to drop it across the board all together.  I know I will get the response of "IT COSTS MONEY TO MAKE IT DOESNT MAKE SENSE TO HAVE IT" but when you see cars like Kias having features like that and a 90k Lincoln does not have it then it just doesn't seem right.  IMO.

[escapeman]

Lincoln kept this feature on the new Nautilus for 24. 
I would not be at all surprised to see it deleted as well for 25. As they kept it on 24s to make a marketing splash. Only way I see it kept is if the Chinese use it , as country of origin is China.  

[Chrisgb]

I suppose APA is useful if you typically find yourself having to parallel park a couple-few times a week. On the other hand, you probably are pretty good at it if that's the case. 

 

I read somewhere, probably on BOF, that Ford Connect relays the frequency and in some cases duration that an option is used. They found through this data mining that few people were using the Homelink garage door feature, continuing to use the clip-on box that came with the garage door opener. They concluded that money could be saved by deleting the feature on some models, or moving it up into a premium package. 

[rmc523]

2 hours ago, Chrisgb said:

I suppose APA is useful if you typically find yourself having to parallel park a couple-few times a week. On the other hand, you probably are pretty good at it if that's the case. 

 

I read somewhere, probably on BOF, that Ford Connect relays the frequency and in some cases duration that an option is used. They found through this data mining that few people were using the Homelink garage door feature, continuing to use the clip-on box that came with the garage door opener. They concluded that money could be saved by deleting the feature on some models, or moving it up into a premium package. 

 

I'll stand by my opinion that removing features, especially while simultaneously raising prices, isn't a good look.

[joseodiaga4]

5 hours ago, Gurgeh said:

The 2025 Aviator now joins the list.

 

https://fordauthority.com/2024/04/2025-lincoln-aviator-also-drops-active-park-assist-2-0/

"The refreshed 2025 Lincoln Aviator just debuted in early February, bringing with it some revised styling elements inside and out, along with a host of new features such as the Lincoln Digital Experience infotainment software, bigger screens, and a revamped interior with new niceties – albeit at higher prices. 2025 Lincoln Aviator production is currently scheduled to kick off at the Chicago Assembly plant in May, but now, Ford Authority has learned that it will be missing one feature, in particular – Active Park Assist 2.0...

 

"As Ford Authority reported this past February, The Blue Oval has been muling the removal of automated parallel parking from its Active Park Assist feature in general, as COO Kumar Galhotra noted on the automaker’s Q4 2024 earnings call with investors that this is one of a few seldomly-used features that the automaker plans to remove as it aims to trim another $2 billion in costs from its bottom line. In fact, removing this feature alone could potentially save the automaker a whopping $10 million annually."

it doesn't make any sense to take it out of Lincoln vehicles, specially the biggest models like the Aviator and Navigator.

Also as RMC says, removing features while increasing the price isn't good

Edited April 5 by joseodiaga4

[chrisholland03]

I had the system on my Corsair and have it on my Nautilus.  The Corsair's system worked better than it does on my Nautilus.  It could get into a space in 2-3 steps consistently, whereas my Nautilus frequently requires 3-5 steps.  

 

That said, having to hold the park assist button to make the vehicle move in the Corsair was extremely inconvenient and illogical.  The more traditional system in the Nautilus where you operate the brake works better.  

 

Additionally, in both cars it takes too many button presses to get the system up and running.  

 

All that to say is I like the feature, but I like for it to work well and be easy to use.

[Roland]

On 4/5/2024 at 1:17 PM, rmc523 said:

 

I'll stand by my opinion that removing features, especially while simultaneously raising prices, isn't a good look.

 

Classic Ford decontenting.   Makes me miss my Contour SVT.

[transitman]

I have it now and had it on an Escape several years ago. There's little need for it where I live and only used it once on the Escape to check it out. It made me nervous, but it worked perfectly. I did use the perpendicular parking feature just the other day on my 2020 Edge Titanium. Once again, it made me nervous, but it worked perfectly. I can imagine using it more often.

[AM222]

On 4/6/2024 at 1:22 AM, joseodiaga4 said:

it doesn't make any sense to take it out of Lincoln vehicles, specially the biggest models like the Aviator and Navigator.

Also as RMC says, removing features while increasing the price isn't good

Extra $$ saved to offset the continuous recalls of North American-built Fords?