Ford postpones Bronco SUV to summer 2021 due to Covid issues

DETROIT – Ford Motor is delaying the launch of its next Bronco SUV from the spring to the summer of next year due to coronavirus issues in its supply chain, the company told its dealers on Friday afternoon.

Customers who had reserved vehicles were to begin the order process on Monday. This has now been postponed to mid-January, Ford spokesman Jiyan Cadiz told CNBC.

“We are committed to building Broncos with the quality our customers expect and deserve,” he said, declining to discuss specific issues with his supply chain.

The Bronco’s postponement is a worrying sign for Ford, and potentially the U.S. auto industry if issues with suppliers reappear due to the increase in coronavirus cases.

In the spring, as Covid-19 quickly spread across North America, automakers had to delay several products by months, or even a year, due to issues with suppliers or to save capital. They also shut down domestic factories for about two months.

The 2021 Bronco has been one of Ford’s most anticipated vehicles for years. The company said more than 150,000 people had made reservations for the vehicles.

As part of the delay, customers will now have until March 19 to place their order and agree on a final price, Cadiz said. Additionally, a highly anticipated “Sasquatch Package” with manual transmission has been pushed back to model year 2022.